Padraig Harrington handed major Open Championship honour in Portrush
Harrington, 53, will start the fourth and final major championship of the year at 6.35am, following in the footsteps of Darren Clarke, who hit the first shot at the county Antrim venue six years ago.
The Dubliner, who is a three-time major champion and won The Open twice, is one of five Irish golfers in the field with fellow Open winners Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, as well as Tom McKibbin.
He is the last player to win the Claret Jug in successive years, after beating Sergio Garcia in a play-off to win The 136th Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and then overhauling Greg Norman to defend his title at Royal Birkdale a year later. Harrington was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year.
Harrington also recently won the US Senior Open for the second time. The rest of the draw for the first and second rounds will take place at 2pm on Tuesday.
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