Ireland will have a magnificent seven teeing it up at Turnberry - the same number as Carnoustie in 2007.

Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Paul McGinley are back in the Open field after failing to qualify for Royal Birkdale last year.

The record for Irish participants is 15 at Birkdale in 1976 when five made the cut.

But the all time Irish record for making the cut is six out of six at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s in 1958 when Christy O’Connor Snr, Fred Daly, Christy Greene, Norman Drew, Harry Bradshaw and amateur Joe Carr played all four rounds.


Padraig Harrington
Age: 37
World ranking: 14
Open record: Played 12. Scoring average 71.48. Best finishes: Winner 2007, 2008; T-5 2002.
Pros: He knows he can win if he is contention coming down the stretch
Cons: Poor form has left him low on confidence with his swing.

Rory McIlroy
Age: 20
World ranking: 22
Open record: Played 1. Scoring average 72.25. Leading amateur in 2007 when T42.
Pros: Tied 20th on the Masters debut and 10th in the US Open last month, he knows he has the game to compete.
Cons: Played poorly in Loch Lomond last week, leading to intensive work on his swing,

Graeme McDowell
Age: 29
World ranking: 46
Open record: Played 5. Scoring average 73.00. Best finishes: T-11 200
5; T-19 2008.
Pros: A natural links player, he contended at St Andrews in 2005 and at Birkdale last year before fading. More confident since his Ryder Cup debut.
Cons: Not quite firing on all cylinders this season with just one top 10 from 15 starts.

Darren Clarke
Age: 40
World ranking: 109
Open record: Played 17. Scoring average 71.55. Best finishes: T-2 Troon 1997, T-3 Lytham 2001; T-7 St Andrews 2000.
Pros: Two wins last season proved he is not a spent force. A links specialist.
Cons: Lack of patience with the putter and an erratic short game are his major weaknesses.

Damien McGrane
Age: 38
World ranking: 154
Open record: Played 1. 2008 CUT (Birkdale). Scoring average 75.
Pros: One of the great grinders on tour, he knows how to gut it out and post a score no matter what the stage might be.
Cons: Not the straightest hitter in the world, just coming back into form after a run of seven missed cuts from 13 starts.

Paul McGinley
Age: 42
World ranking: 200
Open record: Played 15. Scoring average 72.41. Best finishes: T-14 Lytham 1996; T-20 St Andrews 2000; T 19 Carnoustie 2007.
Pros: Turnberry could suit his strategic style.Lkes to place the ball and does not need to overpower the golf course.
Cons: Badly lacking confidence, especially on the greens.

David Higgins
Age: 36
World ranking: 964
Open record: Played 1. Scoring average 75.00. Best finish: CUT Carnoustie 2007.
Pros: Links golf is second nature to the Waterville wonder. Feels at home at Turnberry.
Cons: Hasn’t played a tour event for more tan a year and his lack of experience at this level will make it tough for him to contend. Making the cut would be an achievement.