OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS

Harrington defies weather and
injury to start defence with 74

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Padraig Harrington defied wind, rain and his injured wrist to make a highly creditable start to the defence of his Open title at Royal Birkdale.
Harrington battled to a round of 74, four over par, on a miserable morning.
That was three shots off the clubhouse target set by playing partner Retief Goosen, the South African one of just six players to actually get under par so far.
Harrington had rated his chances of playing at 75% and was just 50-50 to complete the championship after picking up a wrist injury during practice at home on Saturday.
But the Dubliner said: "I'm happy to have played. I battled well through the first 16 holes and thought the hard work was done. With the last two holes being downwind it was a poor finish to end with two bogeys.
"I didn't have any problems with the wrist on the course but felt a few twinges of pain warming up. But I've got another day to rest and I'm quite happy. I've not played myself out of the tournament."
Goosen was two over par after five holes but holed a 70ft chip shot for par on the sixth and then picked up four birdies in his last 10 holes, despite revealing he had only managed one practice round after arriving at the course on Wednesday.
"I've played in conditions like this before in the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews. It was tough, especially on a course like this, a real battle out there," said the 39-year-old.
"I made a couple of good par saves, chipped in for par on the sixth after a double-bogey and that really kept the round together."