Harrington finding form

Pádraig Harrington is facing green lights all the way south to Royal Lytham after an encouraging four days at the Scottish Open.

Harrington (71) shared 16th on 12-under par with fellow Major champion, Phil Mickelson (74) and world number one, Luke Donald (73).

India’s Jeev Milka Singh ended a four-year winless drought to capture his fourth European Tour title in defeating Italy’s Francesco Molinari with a birdie at the first extra hole of sudden death after both players finished tied on 17-under par.

Singh, 40 came from three strokes back to post a last day 67 before Molinari, who had been second a week before in the French Open, forced the play-off by holing a six-foot par putt in a round of 72.

Harrington left Castle Stuart’s breezier final round conditions with three birdies sandwiched in between bogeys at his second and second last holes.

“I will always play the week before a Major and I’m pleased I played this week,” said Harrington.

“But then I am glad The Open is now this coming week and not this week past.

“I feel as though I’ve got rid of a lot of the cobwebs and that I’ve been able to focus on what I need to do at Royal Lytham.

“Put it this way, I won’t be hitting any panic button as I’m not going to find much from here to Thursday; it’s just all about routines and attitude. I’ll focus more on my putting and general short game.”

And after three days of benign conditions, Harrington was also pleased with the testier windy conditions yesterday.

“The first three days are probably three of the calmest days I’ve ever experienced playing links golf, so it was nice it was a little tougher today,” he said.

“But I’m now heading to The Open excited and also nervous, and that’s what you want.

“The Open Championship is going to be massively different to the Scottish Open. It’s great and I’m looking forward to heading to Lytham. I will have to try hard to not overdo things but you want to do many things at a big tournament.

“But then that’s why you have to be rested come Sunday afternoon, if you are to win the tournament.”

Unfortunately, Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie will not be joining Harrington in golf’s oldest Major.

The duo were in contention heading to the weekend for the spot into the British Open but both fell out of favour, with Lowry ending with scores of 69 and 71 for a share of 11th place at 13-under par.

Lawrie, who had qualified for last month’s US Open, signed for scores of 68 and 74 for a share of 24th spot on 11-under par.

Meanwhile Tiger Woods got his first look at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 11 years and declared parts of the Lancashire links gem to be almost unplayable. Woods wasted little time after arriving in his private jet at nearby Blackpool Airport at 7.30am yesterday, heading straight for this week’s host venue.

Woods wanted to get a full round in before the likelihood that continuing rain could seriously disrupt the practice plans of all competitors.

After playing the par three opening hole, Woods got his first look at the rough down the second.

“Oh, my god!” he was heard to say.

Woods, who is looking to capture a fourth British Open success, took five-and-a-half hours to play the course.

And when asked his impression of the course, he commented: “I have never seen rough that high for a Major Championship.

“There’s some parts of the course that if you get in the rough, it’s going to be almost unplayable.”