Padraig Harrington will be returning to Castle Stuart where he finished tied 14th in the Barclays Scottish Open last year. Picture ©Getty Images Three-time major Champion Padraig Harrington is hoping his love of links golf can help him to be crowned the king of Castle Stuart after confirming he will compete in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open from July 12-15, writes the European Tour.
Graeme McDowell lines up his birdie putt at his 18th in Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, Inverness, Scotland. Picture Stuart Adams /www.golffile.ie 8th July 2011If Rory McIlroy was wondering who might step up to challenge him in next week’s Open at Sandwich, he need look no further than Ireland’s other majors winners.
Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington appear to have found their best form in the nick of time and if they don’t wear themselves out chasing the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, they have more than enough game to bring Ireland yet more major glory at Royal St George’s next week.
Both men took advantage of benign early morning conditions to race into contention for victory tomorrow with McDowell firing a bogey free, eight under par 64 to share the lead on 11 under par in the weather delayed second round.
Paul McGinley is one of Ireland’s greatest ever servants on tour. Credit: golffile.iePaul McGinley will become just the third Irish player to make 500 European Tour appearances when he tees it up in the Barclays Scottish Open today.
The 44-year old joins Eamonn Darcy (610 appearances) and Des Smyth (594) in the 500-club and hopes that he still has plenty of good golf to play before his niggling knee problems force him to hang up his spikes.
Who knows, he might eventually get his reward for his long service to the European Tour and become the first Irishman to skipper the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in 2014. He reflected on his career on the European Tour website:
