Pádraig Harrington was pleased to survive a tough test at Carnoustie on day one of the Senior Open as he muscled his way into early contention.
Harrington has two runner-up finishes in this event so he is hoping for third time lucky at a venue where he earned his first major championship title in 2007.
The 52-year-old carded a one-under 71 to lie alongside compatriot Peter Lawrie and two shots behind KJ Choi, Richard Green and Peter Baker.
“Yeah, okay with it. I think I played well at times out there, and then I struggled the last couple of holes and made some good saves on 16 and 17,” said Harrington who made the ideal start with a birdie on the first before mixing birdies on 10, 12 and 14 with bogeys on 8, 11 and 15.
“I think 71 is fine. It’s well in there. I’d like to play a little bit better for rest of the week but actually probably play the same. Be fine.”
Seventeen years ago Harrington won the first of his back to back Open Championships here in Carnoustie and while he has enjoyed returning to a place where he has happy memories he still finds the challenge of the often dubbed ‘Carnastie’ intimidating.
“I have plenty of demons out there but I do enjoy myself here. So I can enjoy the fact that I’ve won here. I can enjoy the reception I get here.
“But the golf course is tough. There’s a lot of — yeah, there’s a lot of defensive shots on the course. You go to 6 with the out-of-bounds down the left; 8 with the out-of-bounds there, plenty of bunkers; and 18, there’s trouble everywhere looking at you. It’s a golf course that, you know, it intimidates you.”
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