Harrington retains the Open and joins the greats
Zulu dawn for McGrane
Debut boy Damien McGrane reckons there could be Zulus hiding in the rough at Royal Birkdale.
The grass is waist high in places at the Southport track and the Meath man want to avoid it at all costs when he tees off in the 'Zulu Dawn' patrol with Jerry Kelly and Darren Fichardt at 7.03am.
Anxious to make his Major debut at last, McGrane said: "It is a tough track. There are a lot of tough holes out there and you have to hit long, straight tee shots.
"If you play well, you will do well and if you don't you will get hammered, especially by the rough.
"I haven't lost the bag in it yet and I haven't see any Zulus out there yet either.
Harrington's hole by hole guide to Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale has reduced some of golf’s superstars to quivering wrecks but Padraig Harrington still wishes the course was even harder.
Vulnerable to gale force winds from the Irish Sea, the Merseyside links is a fearsome beast when the weather gets rough.
Padraig feeling good for Birkdale
Padraig Harrington is feeling good about his chances of hanging on to the Claret Jug for another year after retaining his Irish PGA title by four shots at The European Club.
The Dubliner grabbed his first win for more than eight months when he closed with a 72 to finish four shots clear of surprise Open qualifier Philip Walton on one-over par.
And while he spotted a flaw in his set up that he hopes to sort out before Thursday's opening round at Royal Birkdale, he arrived on Merseyside yesterday with an extra spring in his step