Pádraig to follow hero into trap

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has held a few trophies aloft during his illustrious career but he will be touching a different kind of golfing history tomorrow on an English links.

The two-time British Open champion will get his hands on the game’s first sand wedge when he officially unveils a new bunker at the Prince’s Golf Club’s famous Himalayas course at Sandwich, Kent.

The sand trap is named in honour of the legendary Gene Sarazen, who won the 1932 British Open on the course with the help of the club he invented especially for the event.

The original hickory-shafted club used by Sarazen to win his only British Open title will be held by Harrington in the new ‘Sarazen bunker’, located on the left edge of the ninth green and which covers a bunker played by Sarazen on his way to a five-shot victory over fellow American Macdonald Smith nearly 80 years ago.

Sarazen’s sand iron was thus born and became a best-seller for Wilson, the company ‘The Squire’ endorsed for 75 years.

Harrington not only endorses Wilson Staff equipment but has contributed to the research and development of its latest clubs. He will also use his visit to the Kent coast to reacquaint himself with the nearby links at Royal St George’s, venue for this year’s British Open on July 14-17.

The Irish three-time major winner finished tied for 22nd place, eight strokes behind surprise winner Ben Curtis of America, when Royal St George’s last staged the event in 2003.