Defending champion Pádraig Harrington believes the King's Course will provide a stern test for the best senior golfers in the world this week as he prepares to defend his ISPS HANDA Senior Open title.
The Irishman finished second when the event was first played at The Gleneagles Hotel in 2022 but 12 months ago went one better to lift the trophy at Sunningdale and complete the Open double.
After recently claiming a fourth Senior Major at the U.S. Senior Open Championship, he arrives in Scotland among the favourites, but he thinks he could be facing some problems relatable to amateurs over the next four days.
"It's in great condition," he said. "It's pretty tight in places, I'll be happy if I finish the week without losing a golf ball. If I can manage that I'll probably be pretty competitive.
"It's reasonably wide fairways in places, a few narrow ones, but if you miss in places sometimes six or seven yards you're in three-foot high ferns.
"You want to hit the ball straight this week and if you do, I don't know if the wind and rain is going to come in, but it's been a very pleasant golf course if you hit the fairways."
Following his Senior U.S. Open win, he missed the cut at both the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship, events where he may have expected his links prowess to pay dividends.
But despite those disappointments, he is still feeling good about his game and is relishing being back among the seniors.
"I feel good about my game," he said. "I had a bit of a blowout the last couple of weeks on the main tour, I don't know if it's trying too hard or I just fell out of form, but I feel good now.
"I've worked through a few things and I'm looking forward to being out there and being a little bit more in my own comfort zone.
"I'm excited. There's a little bit of trepidation and stress when you're defending. I can't wait for it to start tomorrow and get going."
