The Open Championship: The Irish contenders in the running for the Claret Jug

The Open is – according to Darren Clarke – the ‘biggest and the best major’.

While Americans grow up dreaming about winning the Masters, in these parts it’s the Claret Jug that holds an almost mythical appeal.

This year The Open Championship returns to Royal Liverpool, or Hoylake as it is often called.

Six golfers from these shores will be in action, amongst them four former winners, some of whom will be considered real live contenders.

There’s a long-held school of thought that Irish golfers are somehow better equipped than others to play in Open Championships.

Apparently, we’re used to ‘tough’ conditions, playing links golf in wet and windy weather, but the facts don’t support that assertion, certainly when it comes to Irish success at The Open.

Until Padraig Harrington’s breakthrough win in 2007, Irish success was very slim. Fred Daly was the only winner prior to Padraig back in 1947 (funnily enough Fred’s win was at Royal Liverpool).

The truth is, it doesn’t really matter where you grow up, most golfers have the good sense to stay indoors when it’s wet and windy.

And while it’s true that top-flight amateurs in GB&I do get significant opportunities to play links golf the moment they turn professional they are faced with a daily diet of inland, parkland courses.

As a result, the ability to hit a low running shot that hugs the turf is jettisoned for one that ensures the ball flies high and long through the air.

So while our professionals may well enjoy the challenge of playing links golf, it does take some practice and they can and do struggle to adapt.

For those who played the Scottish Open last week, the process of acclimatisation should be complete and, given the solid performance of winner Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington there are genuine reasons to be hopeful this week.

Padraig Harrington

Two-time Open champion, Padraig Harrington, is convinced he can still mix it with the youngsters at links venues like Hoylake.

“I feel I can challenge anybody on a links golf course without a doubt. From years of playing, it comes naturally to me. And I don't have a problem coming back and playing with the young guys on any golf course, but obviously, links makes it a little easier for me,” said Padraig at last week’s Scottish Open where he finished tied for 42nd.

The Dubliner, now 51, should be credited with relaunching Irish golfers as major contenders. His back-to-back Open wins in 2007 and 2008 created the environment for Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry to follow.

Harrington’s Open record in recent years is distinctly average, including four missed cuts in his last five appearances. He also missed the cut the last time the tournament was held at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

However, he is man reinvigorated by multiple wins on the seniors circuit and he made the cut at both the US PGA Championship and the US Open this season.

Shane Lowry

Shane’s 2019 Open Championship success was one for the ages, but for someone often referred to as a ‘links specialist’, his Open performances have actually been mixed.

Prior to his historic win on the north coast he had missed four Open cuts in a row and while he finished T12th at Royal St George’s in 2021 he slipped to T21st at St Andrews last year.

He does however, have some positive memories from the Open’s last visit to Royal Liverpool when he finished tied ninth and his affinity for links golf is well known.

Indifferent putting performances have held him back so far this season but he seems to be rounding into form at just the right time with a run of five top 20 finishes and a good outing at the Genesis Scottish Open (tied 12th).

“I've been rolling a few putts in which is always nice. Played some lovely stuff over the last few days, and you know, plenty of confidence builders to take into The Open next week,” he said at the Scottish.

The Clara man has also been keeping some of his best golf for major weeks in 2023. He finished tied 16th at the Masters, 12th at the PGA Championship and tied 20th at the US Open.

Alex Maguire

Amateur Alex will make his major debut at Royal Liverpool having topped the Open Amateur Series which rewarded the top points scorer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking from the St Andrews Links Trophy, Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship.

The Laytown & Bettystown member earned his spot in the field at Hoylake by winning the St Andrews Links and reaching the quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship at Hillside GC.

A golf scholarship student at Florida Atlantic, the 22-year-old became the first player for 30 years to retain the East of Ireland Amateur title at County Louth last month.

Of the Open he said: “It's one of the four biggest events in the world, and for me, it's the one I stand on the putting green trying to hole putts to win.”

He will arrive at Hoylake having helped Ireland to a third-place finish in the European Team Championships.

Seamus Power

Seamus Power started the season with genuine ambitions to play his way onto the European Ryder Cup team but things haven’t gone to plan.

He’s still in the mix but the Co Waterford-born player, who went to college at East Tennessee State University, has been unusually inconsistent and missed the cut at both the PGA Championship and the US Open.

The 36-year-old, who has two wins to his name on the PGA Tour failed to make the cut last year in his debut Open appearance carding rounds of 73 and 75 at St Andrews.

His preparations for the Open have been hit by a hip injury which forced him to withdraw from the Genesis Scottish Open midway through his opening round.

It would be a serious blow for him if he was unable to play at Hoylake, a venue he has fond memories of playing whilst an amateur.

At the time of writing, there had been no medical update and he was still listed as being in the field.

Darren Clarke

Darren was 42 when, in 2011, he became the oldest player to lift the Claret Jug since Roberto de Vicenzo in 1967. In his 20th appearance, he defeated Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson by three strokes at Royal St George's.

He had previously finished joint runner-up to Justin Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997 and tied third when David Duval won at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2001.

Unfortunately, Darren hasn’t made the cut in an Open Championship since Royal Troon in 2016.

Currently plying his trade mostly on the seniors circuit in the US, he is likely to find the length of modern championship courses difficult to handle.

Now 54 years old, Darren’s knowledge and experience of playing links is matched only by Padraig Harrington and while he is highly unlikely to be a factor come Sunday evening, he may well prove crafty enough to make it through to the weekend.

Rory McIlroy

The omens really couldn’t be much better for Rory who warmed up for the Open Championship with a brilliant win at the Scottish Open on Sunday. It was the manner of the victory rather than the success itself which should give fans extra hope. Having slipped behind, he played the closing nine in four under par and produced birdies right when he needed them on 17 and 18.

“You've got to hit great shots but you also have to finish them off with putts, and that's something that I didn't do at St Andrews last year, and it's something I didn't do in L.A. [US Open] a few weeks ago," said Rory following his win on Sunday.

“So to be able to hole those putts coming down the stretch when I needed to, I don't feel like it really proves anything. I don't feel like I need to prove anything in my career, but it's satisfying to know that I can still do it.”

Bouyed by that Scottish Open success, he just happeNS to be returning to the scene of his one and only Open Championship win.

In the summer of 2014, Rory was in one of his golden spells and three weeks after winning at Royal Liverpool he also added a second PGA crown.

His drought since then has been well documented and the major near misses have continued to rack up. Since winning at Hoylake, he has finished joint fifth, fourth, second and third at the Open.

A missed cut at The Masters aside, it has been a steady 2023 major season for Rory. He finished tied seventh at the PGA Championship and barely a month ago he finished second to Wyndham Clark at the US Open.

The expectations will have soared in the wake of his win at The Renaissance Club on Sunday.

Can he manage that pressure and get into contention once again?