Pad: Possible to win... even at 50

PADRAIG HARRINGTON speaks with wonder about the mystique of St Andrews – but insists it will not take magic for him to win The Open at the home of golf at 50.

The three-time Major champ added a US Senior Open to his glittering CV a fortnight ago and, as a two-time Open winner, will fancy his chances on the Old Course.

The way he describes it, the famous venue is like a golfer’s Disneyland – only better.

“It has a mystique,” said the Dubliner. “It’s not just the golf course, it’s the town – the fact that the golf course is in the town.

“Everybody there is into golf, talks about golf, loves golf. The whole place. Everyone walking in, whether it’s tourist or local.

“You go to the golf course, you know the history. There’s nothing like it in golf. Plenty have tried to copy it, I’m sure, but it’s unique. Maybe it’s the history that has done that. It’s the whole package.

“You stand on the first tee – it’s the widest fairway in golf – and you’re nervous that you’re going to hit it out of bounds.

“You stand on the 18th and you’re aiming at the clock in the R&A clubhouse. It’s an unbelievable place and everywhere there is something going on. There’s a magic about it.”

Having said all that, Harrington (above) gives the 17th at St Andrews – the infamous Road Hole – the nod over Carnoustie’s final hole as the best on The Open rota.

“Because of the pain it’s caused so many people over the years,” he said. “You can play 70 holes in tournament golf in The Open championship and you’re still going to be worried about the 71st hole.

“You can’t win that tournament until you play the 17th. It’s a phenomenal hole to come at that stage.” As for winning another Open, Harrington added: “It’s certainly possible. At my stage, it’s probably a little easier to win a major than it is to win a regular event.”