Pod hopes for the Old magic

PADRAIG HARRINGTON loves the mystique of St Andrews – and fancies himself, at 50, to tap into some of the Old Course’s magic.

The two-time Open champion added a US Senior Open to his CV a fortnight ago and can’t wait to give his nerves another Major test.

“St Andrews has a mystique,” said the Dubliner (above). “It’s not just the course, it’s the town. It’s all about golf. You go to the course, you know the history. It’s fantastic in itself.

“You stand on the first tee, the widest fairway in golf, and you’re nervous you’re going to hit it out of bounds. There’s a magic about it.”

He added: “I don’t have a barrier of 50 years of age. Every time I tee it up, I think it’s going to be the week. I think I can do it.

“It’s probably at my stage a little easier to win a Major than it is to win a regular event.

“I tend to perform better when I’ve got my back to the wall and I know coming down the stretch in a Major everybody else is going to feel

the same way as I do.”