Harrington open to toughing it out for hat-trick

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON reckons a “Battle of the Toughest” rather than a “Duel in the Sun” will give him the best chance of winning a hat-trick of Open titles at Turnberry in eight weeks’ time.

The Dubliner, 37, teed it up at the famous Ailsa Course for the first time yesterday, and while he loved the strategic challenge, he found the track where Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in that famous weekend shootout in 1977 was far too lush and pristine for his liking.

He loved the strategic test but he’s praying for fast and firm conditions that will try the patience of the game’s elite to the limit and give him the best chance of becoming the first player to win three Claret Jugs in a row since Australia’s Peter Thompson pulled it off 53 years ago.