Harrington Hoping to Create More History in Ireland

Having delighted a nation by becoming the first home winner of the Irish Open for 25 years, Padraig Harrington will turn his attentions to writing another piece of Irish golfing history at the Smurfit Kappa European Open, which will be played at The K Club, County Kildare, from July 5-8. No player has won the coveted double of the Irish Open and Smurfit Kappa European Open titles in Ireland during the same season and Harrington will unquestionably enjoy huge public support as he aims to right that statistic when tournament golf returns to The K Club for the first time since last year’s Ryder Cup. Former US Open winner Michael Campbell (Smurfit Kappa European Open 2002 and Irish Open 2003) and Stephen Dodd (Irish Open 2005 and Smurfit Kappa European Open 2006) have both missed out on the ‘Irish double’ by just 12 months, while World Number Ten Harrington has twice gone close to winning the Smurfit Kappa European Open, finishing in a tie for second place in 2001 and 2002. Last year it was the turn of another Irishman, Paul McGinley, to feature strongly. McGinley had left for Dublin Airport on the Friday afternoon convinced he had missed the cut on two over par. In fact, he ended up making it on the mark and dashed back to The K Club to produce rounds of 67 and 69 for a share of fourth place overall – a result that helped him make the 2006 European Ryder Cup Team. Both men will headline this year’s Irish challenge, which also includes Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie, Graeme McDowell, the best Irish performer in last week’s US Open, Damien McGrane, Gary Murphy and 1995 Ryder Cup star Philip Walton.