Open Form Guide

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The Irish are excited: not only was Padraig Harrington recently a three-time major winner, not only has Graeme McDowell joined the major winners' club, but Rory McIlroy loves St Andrews. This week the fairways will be lined with Irishmen clutching betting slips with the youngster's name scrawled on them; it will be a little like Cheltenham transferred to the Kingdom of Fife. St Andrews is his favourite course, he has played superbly there since turning pro (at the Dunhill Links) and he was brought up on links golf so knows exactly how to play it. He is long enough to fly the trouble from the tee. That length, plus his naturally high flight allows him to land the ball clear of the trouble and near the pin. He is the winner of an event this year - the Quail Hollow Championship - that is a great major championship pointer and he was fourth in Paris two weeks ago. Irish eyes have a right to be smiling.