Padraig Harrington was the first player on the tee at The Open Championship, hitting the first shot of the event at Royal Portrush.
Harrington was awarded the honour at the iconic venue, and the Irishman went on to card a four-over 75 in his first round.
He started at 6.35am on Thursday at The Open, where the popular figure was joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Tom McKibbin.
Harrington thinks he can win The Open, having already done so on two occasions, lifting the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008.
He also triumphed at the PGA Championship in 2008, with a fourth major win now being eyed in County Antrim.
What Padraig Harrington found ‘horrible’ about his first round at The Open
On a wet and windy Thursday, the 53-year-old Irishman carded two birdies, 11 pars, four bogeys and one double bogey.
Reflecting on his first round at this year’s Open, Harrington said: “I hyped up the tee shot as much as I could so when I got there today, it wasn’t too bad.
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“I was decently comfortable when I got on the tee. Obviously didn’t try for too much, hit a nice smooth 3-iron down there, held the post a little bit.
“I got a little emotional when I was clapped on, and then I calmed down, and I was kind of fine when I was hitting it.
“Obviously after that, I don’t know through the start maybe there was a little bit of hype in it, the three-putting 3 and 4, I just struggled.
“Three three-putts in the first seven holes, it just kills you when you’re always thinking about your pace as you’re standing over the ball, you’re always questioning your lines.
“Yeah, it was a tough day on the greens, and it just ate into my game. Might have been a little bit of the fact that I was hyped up for the 1st tee box. Who knows.
“Certainly felt like I played better, could have played better, should have played better, scored better. I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong with my putting, and I had a horrible day on the greens.
“It’s one of those things that’s the nature of the game, links golf. I’d love to be… yeah, I’d love to be a bit better, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.”
Padraig Harrington shares verdict on Royal Portrush fans on day one of The Open
Harrington certainly started strongly despite the challenging nature of the par-four first, along with the pressure it involved.
Moreover, a very early start was required to make his tee time, and Harrington should therefore be relatively proud of his Thursday efforts in very tricky circumstances.
He impressively birdied the hole in front of the expectant fans, and said of the entire situation: “I came off the range about 20 minutes before my tee time, and I could see the grandstand, and it was empty.
“I was like, I thought this was going to be full. Obviously we have to walk up and over, and as I came up and over, I could see people queuing for a long line to get into it.
“They hadn’t let anybody in. By the time we got there, the grandstand was full, the first fairway was full, the first green was full.
“Hitting that second 3-iron into 15, 18 feet, holing the putt was a serious buzz. It was very exciting, and the crowds were, as I said… those crowds were spectacular at that hour of the morning. It was really great.
“I think it was a nice partnership, as I said, myself and Tom, obviously Tom bringing in the locals as well. It was a good group to start off the day.”
Harrington, who won The Open at Carnoustie and Royal Birkdale, received a huge applause after his final putt.
And there was also a great reception for McKibbin, one of three Northern Irish players in the field alongside Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke.
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