Thu Jul 17 06:10:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

Padraig Harrington, a seasoned Irish golfer and recent U.S. Senior Open champion, will hit the ceremonial first tee shot at The Open Championship in Royal Portrush. While he acknowledges his chances of winning are slim at this stage of his career, he is still honored to represent Ireland and participate in the event. He expresses joy at the Open being held in Ireland and is content to see any Irish golfer win, even if it isn’t him. The atmosphere is positive, with large crowds and sunshine, and Harrington appreciates the love for links golf.

**News Article:**

**Harrington to Open The Open Championship at Royal Portrush**

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Veteran Irish golfer Padraig Harrington will have the honor of hitting the opening tee shot at The Open Championship this Thursday at Royal Portrush. The 53-year-old, a recent victor at the U.S. Senior Open, will kick off the prestigious tournament, marking the second time The Open has been held on the island of Ireland in the past decade.

While Harrington admits his prospects for securing the Claret Jug are less certain at this stage in his career, he is embracing the opportunity to represent his homeland. “I definitely feel like I can win an Open Championship, ” Harrington said, before questioning “Do I feel like I can win *this* Open Championship?”.

The atmosphere at Royal Portrush is electric, with enthusiastic crowds flocking to the course. Harrington, a beloved figure in Irish golf, emphasized the significance of the tournament being held on Irish soil and voiced his support for any Irish golfer who might emerge victorious. “2019 was a phenomenal achievement for The Open to come here, then it was phenomenal achievement for Shane to win it. For any of the Irish guys to come out here and win again would be astounding. Yes, I would like it to be me, but I’ll freely admit that I’ll settle for any Irish winner this week.”

Despite acknowledging the uphill battle, Harrington remains optimistic and appreciative. He compared links golf to whiskey, stating, “There’s no such thing as a bad whiskey, just some whiskeys are better than others. When it comes to links golf, that’s the truth of it. There’s just — there are no bad ones. There’s just some that are better than others.” He’s ready to enjoy the atmosphere and contribute to the magic of The Open, even if a victory may not be in the cards.

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