Three ball: Kelly lets the Major lads go first

PÁDRAIG Harrington had a pre-arranged date with John Kelly, the affable club pro at St Margaret’s in north Dublin, but also had a surprise up his sleeve.

As the three-time Major champion walked from the range to the first tee, he gently informed Kelly of his news. “You don’t mind if Keegan Bradley plays with us, do you?” wondered Harrington.

Kelly, not easily dumbstruck, nodded that he had no objections whatsoever . . . and had found his voice by the time handshakes were exchanged on the first tee. After Harrington teed off first, Bradley turned to Kelly. “You go ahead, John.” “No, you play,” responded Kelly. “I haven’t won a Major . . . yet!”

Bradley, who confessed to still feeling the effects of jet lag, has packed a lot of what he termed “the tourist things” into his schedule and included trips to the Giant’s Causeway and the Bushmills Distillery in getting reacquainted with his Irish heritage.

Although his ancestors have connections with Cork at the opposite end of the island, Bradley claimed he had “always wanted” to play in an Irish Open. “It’s been an unbelievable reception, amazing. It’s been everything I thought it would be.”