Pádraig Harrington not standing on ceremony for latest Open bid

Pádraig Harrington during a practice round at Royal Portrush ahead of The 153rd Open Championship. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Pádraig Harrington has been given the honour of hitting the first shot at the 153rd Open Championship on Thursday. Already a two-time winner of this grand old event, the Dubliner is determined to hit the last as well come Sunday evening.

The job of opening these majors tends to go to players of an older vintage, guys once great who aren’t about to threaten the leaderboard come the thick end of the four days. Harrington’s competitive nature makes that impossible.