Harrington aims for hat-trick at Turnberry test
Posted: 14 July 2009
Defending champion Padraig Harrington will aim to make it three-in-a-row this week on the course he describes as the “ideal” Open Championship venue.
Having won The Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and successfully defended the title a year later at Birkdale – Harrington has the chance to be the first European to do so since 1906 – and on Turnberry’s famed Ailsa course this week the Irishman will attempt to become the first man in more than half a century to win the title three times in a row.
Turnberry has staged The Open three times before and on each occasion the Claret Jug was raised by a Hall of Famer who was arguably considered the best golfer of his day.
“It has produced three great Opens,” said Harrington. “Yes, there were great champions, but they were also great Opens, they absolutely were fantastic spectacles of golf. That’s the great thing about this golf course; it’s a very fair golf course; if you play well you can make birdies. If you play badly, especially this year, you’re not going to make birdies; you’re going to make bogeys.”
Since The Open Championship was last held at Turnberry 15 years ago, the Ailsa course has had its teeth sharpened with 21 new bunkers, several new tee positions, and various fairway realignments. The course length has also been increased by 247 yards and Harrington believes the changes will reward good shots, while punishing the wayward.
“It’s one of those weeks where if you hang in there and get yourself in position on the last nine holes you can make birdie. It’s a good golf course. That’s the ideal golf course - one that let’s you make birdie when you play well and punishes you when you play badly. And I think this is a course that is going to do that this week.
“There will be quite an amount of excitement this week. I’d like to be in the heat of the hunt with nine holes to go, because anything can happen,” he said.
