Harrington: Open could produce European winner

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, the only European currently in the world’s top 10, certainly thinks the Open at Royal St George’s could produce a winner from this side of the Atlantic.

“The American players would be more used to target golf – this is the other end of the scale,” said the Dubliner, who missed the play-off by one shot at Muirfield last year.

“It’s what you imagine a links course should be like – hard, fast with an emphasis more on mental strategy than striking of the ball.

“There’ll definitely be times where you’ll be only half hoping to hit a fairway. You’ll be trying to play down one side of the fairway that leaves you in light rough so you know you have a shot to the green.

“You have to accept bad bounces and I would suggest some familiarity with links golf is needed. But all players who are here are capable of playing good golf.”

“I’m struggling a bit at the moment. I seem to be missing one part and am certainly not 100% confident. But I know it’s close.

“For people to say I should have won a Major by now or should in the future is a big compliment. I don’t think somebody would have said it two years ago.

“I led at the Masters (first day), but Muirfield was the first time I sort of said I was capable.”