Padraig Harrington will play under “captain” Lee Trevino and alongside Tony Jacklin and Paul Lawrie in The Open Champions Challenge on the eve of the next week’s 150^th Anniversary Open Championship at St Andrews.

The captains of the seven teams are the most senior competitors.  Peter Thomson, whose team of Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo and Mark Calcavecchia boasts a total of 12 Open Championships between them, will be a non-playing captain as he is unable to play for medical reasons.

The winning team will be presented with a cheque for £50,000 to be donated to charities of their choice.

“We anticipate a very special occasion,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships.  “I am sure all supporters of The Open Championship will be excited by the prospect of seeing so many legends of the game make their way around the Old Course’s natural arena.”

The Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch 3^rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, one of the world’s most celebrated pipe-bands, will get the event underway at 3.10pm on Wednesday 14 July before play begins at 3.40pm.

Tickets are still available for Wednesday with a ticket providing full access to the course to see players practise as well as for The Open Champions Challenge.  

Format

The Open Champions Challenge will be played over holes 1, 2, 17 & 18 of The Old Course.  The best score recorded at each hole by an individual player will count as the team score. 

Teams (Captains in Bold)

3:40 Roberto de Vicenzo, Ben Curtis, Tom Lehman, Sandy Lyle

3:52 Peter Thomson, Mark Calcavecchia, Sir Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods

4:04 Arnold Palmer, Ian Baker-Finch, Stewart Cink, Mark O’Meara

4:16 Gary Player, Todd Hamilton, Justin Leonard, Greg Norman

4:28 Bob Charles, John Daly, David Duval, Bill Rogers

4:40 Lee Trevino, Padraig Harrington, Tony Jacklin, Paul Lawrie

4:52 Tom Weiskopf, Ernie Els, Tom Watson