Eight years ago it was so firm and dry that they banned smoking. Now, just over a month before The Open, Royal Liverpool is a lush green. 

Judging by the links courses on the east coast of Ireland, just across the Irish Sea from Hoylake, a warm, wet spring has done wonders for the rough.

Pádraig Harrington was there just a few days ago for a corporate day and a practice round while reader Raymond McMahon flew over the course in his microlite and sent us these shots.

Compared to the burnt fairways of 2006 (see image below), when Tiger Woods left his driver in his bag and produced one of the great Open performances, it will be a very different test this time.