Latest news with #ClaretJugs
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Padraig Harrington emotional after opening tee shot honour at The 153rd Open Championship
Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington admits he was as emotional as he has ever been on a golf course hitting the first tee shot of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The 53-year-old Dubliner, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of getting the tournament under way at 6.35am and he received a huge welcome. He responded by holing an 18-foot birdie at the first but it was downhill from there as he struggled on the greens and eventually signed for a four-over 75 after losing a ball with a wayward drive on the 10th. "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," he said. The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 "I wouldn't say I get too emotional, not like that, no. It was definitely it felt like they were there for me, giving me a clap. "I expected the nerves; I didn't expect that so I did have to adjust myself for that. "Hitting that second three-iron into 18 feet and holing the putt was a serious buzz. "I don't feel like there's anything wrong with my putting (but) I had a horrible day on the greens. "It might have been a little bit of the fact that I was hyped up for the first tee box. Who knows? "I certainly felt like I played better, could have played better, should have played better, scored better."
The 42
5 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Pádraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
TWO-TIME CHAMPION Pádraig Harrington got the 153rd Open Championship under way, backed by loud Irish support at Royal Portrush. With watery sunshine breaking through the clouds overhead and a stiff breeze blowing right-to-left and into his face the 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of hitting the opening shot at 6.35am. Harrington took an iron and hit the middle of the fairway – which was more than Rory McIlroy did six years ago when the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links after finding out of bounds down the left on his first morning – and responded with a beaming smile. Advertisement The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 Despite being given the honour Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a fortnight ago, is determined to compete as he bids to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. 'I still think I'm a player but I'm quite happy to take the ceremonial position of hitting the first shot. I have to create my own reality and in my reality I can win,' he said on Wednesday. There was almost as much noise for 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, from McIlroy's Holywood club an hour down the road, whose tee shot crept into the left rough, while Ryder Cup winner Nicolai Hojgaard also found the fairway. Harrington hit his approach to 18 feet and holed his birdie attempt, which was greeted by a loud roar and another broad grin from the Irishman, but McKibbin took three to get to the green for a bogey. You can follow the live leaderboard here.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Padraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
With watery sunshine breaking through the clouds overhead and a stiff breeze blowing right-to-left and into his face the 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of hitting the opening shot at 6.35am. Harrington took an iron and hit the middle of the fairway – which was more than Rory McIlroy did six years ago when the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links after finding out of bounds down the left on his first morning – and responded with a beaming smile. The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 Despite being given the honour Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a fortnight ago, is determined to compete as he bids to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. 'I still think I'm a player but I'm quite happy to take the ceremonial position of hitting the first shot. I have to create my own reality and in my reality I can win,' he said on Wednesday. There was almost as much noise for 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, from McIlroy's Holywood club an hour down the road, whose tee shot crept into the left rough, while Ryder Cup winner Nicolai Hojgaard also found the fairway. Harrington hit his approach to 18 feet and holed his birdie attempt, which was greeted by a loud roar and another broad grin from the Irishman, but McKibbin took three to get to the green for a bogey. The morning starters, which included world number one and US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler playing alongside Irish 2019 champion Shane Lowry and former winner Collin Morikawa off at 10.09am, were likely to get the best of the weather. Padraig Harrington was given the honour of the first tee shot at The Open at Royal Portrush (Brian Lawless/PA) That also meant the group ahead of Xander Schauffele, beginning his defence of the Claret Jug, Jon Rahm and US Open champion JJ Spaun would also be likely beneficiaries. Conversely McIlroy, not due out until 3.10pm with Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood and American rival Justin Thomas, was facing a greater chance of rain, some of it heavy, with winds gusting up to 20mph. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, second at last month's US Open, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, European Ryder Cup partners Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, were also paired together in the two groups immediately prior to McIlroy.
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Padraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
With watery sunshine breaking through the clouds overhead and a stiff breeze blowing right-to-left and into his face the 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of hitting the opening shot at 6.35am. Harrington took an iron and hit the middle of the fairway – which was more than Rory McIlroy did six years ago when the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links after finding out of bounds down the left on his first morning – and responded with a beaming smile. The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 Despite being given the honour Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a fortnight ago, is determined to compete as he bids to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. 'I still think I'm a player but I'm quite happy to take the ceremonial position of hitting the first shot. I have to create my own reality and in my reality I can win,' he said on Wednesday. There was almost as much noise for 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, from McIlroy's Holywood club an hour down the road, whose tee shot crept into the left rough, while Ryder Cup winner Nicolai Hojgaard also found the fairway. Harrington hit his approach to 18 feet and holed his birdie attempt, which was greeted by a loud roar and another broad grin from the Irishman, but McKibbin took three to get to the green for a bogey. The morning starters, which included world number one and US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler playing alongside Irish 2019 champion Shane Lowry and former winner Collin Morikawa off at 10.09am, were likely to get the best of the weather. That also meant the group ahead of Xander Schauffele, beginning his defence of the Claret Jug, Jon Rahm and US Open champion JJ Spaun would also be likely beneficiaries. Conversely McIlroy, not due out until 3.10pm with Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood and American rival Justin Thomas, was facing a greater chance of rain, some of it heavy, with winds gusting up to 20mph. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, second at last month's US Open, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, European Ryder Cup partners Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, were also paired together in the two groups immediately prior to McIlroy.
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Padraig Harrington gets Open under way at Royal Portrush
With watery sunshine breaking through the clouds overhead and a stiff breeze blowing right-to-left and into his face the 53-year-old, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, was given the honour of hitting the opening shot at 6.35am. Harrington took an iron and hit the middle of the fairway – which was more than Rory McIlroy did six years ago when the tournament returned to the Dunluce Links after finding out of bounds down the left on his first morning – and responded with a beaming smile. The opening tee shot of The 153rd Open. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025 Despite being given the honour Harrington, who won the US Senior Open a fortnight ago, is determined to compete as he bids to become the oldest winner of the Claret Jug. 'I still think I'm a player but I'm quite happy to take the ceremonial position of hitting the first shot. I have to create my own reality and in my reality I can win,' he said on Wednesday. There was almost as much noise for 22-year-old Tom McKibbin, from McIlroy's Holywood club an hour down the road, whose tee shot crept into the left rough, while Ryder Cup winner Nicolai Hojgaard also found the fairway. Harrington hit his approach to 18 feet and holed his birdie attempt, which was greeted by a loud roar and another broad grin from the Irishman, but McKibbin took three to get to the green for a bogey. The morning starters, which included world number one and US PGA champion Scottie Scheffler playing alongside Irish 2019 champion Shane Lowry and former winner Collin Morikawa off at 10.09am, were likely to get the best of the weather. That also meant the group ahead of Xander Schauffele, beginning his defence of the Claret Jug, Jon Rahm and US Open champion JJ Spaun would also be likely beneficiaries. Conversely McIlroy, not due out until 3.10pm with Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood and American rival Justin Thomas, was facing a greater chance of rain, some of it heavy, with winds gusting up to 20mph. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, second at last month's US Open, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, European Ryder Cup partners Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, were also paired together in the two groups immediately prior to McIlroy.
