Harrington plays down chances

Even without the neck injury which he feared would rule him out of contention, Padraig Harrington is playing down his chances of becoming the first home winner of the Irish Open since 1982.

Second in 2001 and again last year, Harrington’s career reached a new high in March when he grabbed his first US Tour title at the Honda Classic – after a closing 63 and a play-off with Vijay Singh.