The Open at Royal Portrush started yesterday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer.
Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf’s oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the north Atlantic Ocean, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway.
The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title.
Photo: Reuters
Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what is at stake this year.
He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club to offer him the opening shot.
He produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt.
Photo: Reuters
It was only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was at 6:35am.
The final group was not expected to finish until about 9:30pm, well after press time last night.
Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug.
He was among the late starters yesterday.
The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world’s No. 1 player for the past two years, as well as defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-2008) to win the Open in consecutive years.
This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888.
The weather forecast for the week was “mixed,” a term in those parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything.
Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds.
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