Harrington star-struck at Carnoustie

Padraig Harrington’s liking for the out-of-the-ordinary Dunhill Links Championship was evident again today with two birdies in his first three holes at Carnoustie.

The defending champion sank a 20-foot putt on the second, then pitched to four feet at the 337-yard next.

It made him the leader on the course, but only third in the €4.3m tournament as over at St Andrews Frenchman Thomas Levet began the back nine with a hat-trick of birdies and Finn Mikko Ilonen did the same at Kingsbarns, the other venue for the celebrity pro-am.

Harrington was again paired with Irish businessman and racehorse owner JP McManus and the pair were looking to repeat a double last year which saw the Ryder Cup star pocket nearly £550,000 (€794,000) for both individual and team success.

In the same group was Darren Clarke, whose 20-foot putt at the third kept him snapping at Harrington’s heels.

The format, with stars of stage, screen and sport all coming together for what is called “a celebration of links golf”, makes the tournament unique on the European circuit.

Because rounds take so long it is not to everyone’s liking – Retief Goosen has decided to miss it this time and on its first staging two years ago the weather was bad, the crowds were poor and some of the coverage savagely critical.

But Harrington is a big fan, simply because it is different and he can do some star-gazing as well.

“I was in the lift with Hugh Grant (Colin Montgomerie’s partner), but didn’t say anything to him because maybe he does not know me. I saw Samuel L Jackson (Nick Faldo’s partner) at the pro-am party and thought ‘he is cool, isn’t he?’

“You look at stars and go ‘wow’. Nothing about this week is the same as any other week. And it makes you feel special that these people want to come and play with you.

“It’s not just a tournament. It’s a big show. Some people don’t love the amateur format and think it’s a hindrance, but personally I think it’s brilliant to see these people in real life.”

The golfing talent on view includes world number two Ernie Els, number three Vijay Singh, former Open champion Nick Price and current US PGA champion Shaun Micheel, who like Els has his father as his partner.

Sam Torrance, meanwhile, introduces his teenage son Daniel to the stage, while two more combinations that illustrate the nature of the event are Ronan Rafferty with model Jodie Kidd and Paul McGinley with former American vice-president Dan Quayle.