Harrington joins champions' tee party

Royal Birkdale hero Padraig Harrington will take his place among the year’s major winners in the traditional grouping of champions for the opening rounds of next week’s US PGA Championship.

In the tee times issued by the PGA of America tonight, Open champion Harrington will tee off next Thursday at 6.15pm BST with Masters winner Trevor Immelman, while the absence through injury of US Open victor Tiger Woods means the world number one’s place has gone to 2007 champion Angel Cabrera.

World number two Phil Mickelson will join fellow former PGA champions Davis Love and Rich Beem in a 1.45pm BST tee time while, 20 minutes earlier, Sergio Garcia of Spain will be the elder statesman alongside American Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas of Colombia.