Padraig Harrington confessed that he needs a war of attrition at Turnberry if he is to complete a hat-trick of Open wins. The Dubliner played the famous Ailsa Course for the first time yesterday and immediately started praying for hard and fast conditions that would give him a mental edge over his rivals.

Turnberry is famous for the 1977 “Duel in the Sun” when Tom Watson outgunned Jack Nicklaus in a birdie fest. But Harrington believes the tougher the conditions, the better his chances of becoming the first man to win three Claret Jugs in a row since Australian Peter Thompson pulled off the feat in 1956.

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Walker Cup skipper Colin Dalgleish is begging Shane Lowry to listen to Padraig Harrington and put his pro plans on hold. The Scot is desperate to frighten the life of the Yanks by sending out the Irish Open champion to win back the trophy at Merion from September 12-13.

Colin Dalgleish and Rory McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup venue, Royal County Down.Anxiously waiting for a call from his No 1 star, Dalgleish said: “It think it would be great if he stayed for the Walker Cup. It is one thing for me to be telling Shane that but when Padraig Harrington is telling him to take his time, I agree with that 100 percent.

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