
Padraig Harrington goes to extreme lengths on day one of The Open as fans make Irish stereotype joke
The two-time winner was granted the honour of getting the 153rd edition of the world's oldest tournament
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He wound up shooting a patchy round of 75
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The Rathfarnham native made sure he was up in plenty of time
Credit: @padraig_h
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He took the Claret Jug home in 2007 and 2008
Credit: Getty
In order to make sure he was completely ready to go on the opening tee box, he set his alarm for 4am in a move typical of the eccentric golfing obsessive's nature.
Alongside the photographic evidence he wrote: "Earliest wake up, so far this year."
The 53-year-old has built up a huge fanbase over the years as much due to his forensic approach to studying the game as well as his many on-course feats.
So the latest example of his dedication to his craft drew praise from followers around the world in many differing time zones.
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Bexley quipped: "Top of the early morning to ya!" Meanwhile someone else joked: "That's my same alarm, but to leave the pub."
Lastly, Garvan amusingly commented: "An hour on the practice range beforehand?"
Harrington wound up posting a four over par score of 75 for his round. That means he'll likely need a strong round on Friday to make the cut.
Rory McIlroy is of course the main attraction at Royal Portrush this week.
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Ahead of his 3.10pm tee time
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The cheeky Irish bookmaker doffed their cap to
Paddy Power himself commented: 'Winning a career Grand Slam takes guts – or, in Rory's case, absolute balls of steel.
"We thought it was only right to honour his heroic return with something suitably enormous, unmissable, and truly entertaining.
"What better way than a pair of giant underpants and two enormous golf balls swinging in the Northern Irish breeze? If that doesn't scream 'Rory's home', we don't know what does.'
"Because if anyone's earned the right to strut around with massive metaphorical stones, it's Rory McIlroy, and when he shows up swinging, so do we."
GREEN SCENE
The five-time Major winner gave his fans a thrill by wearing his Green Jacket to Portrush as he collected the Golfer of the Year award from the Association of Golf Writers.
McIlroy, 36, said: 'The reception I've had here has made this week a celebration of what I have achieved in my career but it's also an opportunity I want to embrace.
'Being in this position is the stuff of dreams. It has been an incredible year.'
McIlroy was mobbed walking across the first fairway for the awards, prompting chants of 'Rory, Rory'.
He
He said: 'I feel so grateful to be in this position now, to be home and have the chance to win another Major.
"It's been an amazing year, from the end of last year winning the Race to Dubai and doing what I've done in the first half of this year.'
Pointing at his Green Jacket for winning The Masters, he said: 'I fulfilled a lifelong dream this year, winning this thing that's over my shoulders right now. Any excuse to put it back on I'll happily take.'

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