Fans must rise early to watch dream pairing

Golf fans will need to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to arrive in good time at Fota Island to watch the marquee draw in the first round of the Irish Open Championship.

Two of Ireland’s four major champions, Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington, go off the 10th tee at 7.50am along with Stephen Gallacher, the Scot who is making a bold bit to be a member of Paul McGinley’s European Ryder Cup team in his native country in September. While McIlroy has yet to win the Irish Open, Harrington did so at Adare Manor in 2007.

The trio are followed immediately off the 10th by Darren Clarke, another who has yet to capture the title, and he partners England’s Ross Fisher, the champion at Killarney in 2010, and the highly promising Italian Matteo Manassero. Those content to delay their arrival until later in the day can take in the group containing Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell and holder Paul Casey starting at the first at 12.50.