Harrington focused on Open

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington says he will use this week's Irish Open at Portstewart as preparation for this month's Open Championship.

Harrington is part of a star-studded field for the Irish Open tournament, with ten of the world's top 40 players in action, including world number four Rory McIlroy and former US Open champion Justin Rose.

Harrington has played just eight events this year and underwent surgery on a trapped nerve in his neck in March. The 45-year-old was also sidelined for six weeks after suffering a freak elbow injury while coaching at a corporate open day in June. 

But, despite the stop-start season, the Dubliner is already turning his thoughts to the Open championship at Royal Birkdale, the course where he won the second of his two Claret Jugs in 2008.

"Having only played 25 rounds of competitive golf since November, the season just hasn't got started," the 45-year-old said.

"I need a run of events but my game feels good and there's no reason why it can't add up to a winning performance this week or in any week at the moment.

"I'm certainly not using this as a practise week, but I have set my plan of preparation to get ready for The Open. I've already got into that sort of game mode where everything is about peaking for the week of The Open.

"It's a good situation. My head is in the game, put it like that. I'm all about getting out on the golf course and competing and playing."

Tournament host McIlroy will play with world number two Hideki Matsuyama and Spain's Jon Rahm in the opening two rounds of this week's Irish Open.

Harrington will be partnered with Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez, and European Ryder Cup player Andy Sullivan.

Image: Getty Images/ Ross Kinniard

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