Wilson staff players ready for The Open

BIRKDALE, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 21: Padraig Harrington of Ireland the 2008 Open Champion poses with the Claret Jug and his 5 wood that he used to hit his memorable second shot to the par 5, 17th hole where his shot finished 3 feet from the hole during the final round for an eagle 3 that secured his win. The photograph was taken before his Champion's Press Conference after the 2008 Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, on July 21, 2008 in Birkdale, England. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Former Open Champions Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie lead the list of Wilson Staff players competing at the 146th staging of golf’s oldest Major at Royal Birkdale, all using the brand’s FG Tour V6 irons.

Harrington, who won the Claret Jug the last time The Open was played at the venue in 2008, returns to the Southport coast with good memories having hit one of the most memorable shots in Open history on his way to victory. In howling conditions during the final round, a 5-wood from 249-yards on the 17th hole finished three feet away. A tap in eagle followed birdies on the 13th and 15th to record a final round 69 to retain the title he won at Carnoustie a year before.

Scotsman Lawrie re-joined the brand shortly before last year’s Open Championship, having won at Carnoustie with Wilson Staff irons back in 1999. The Ryder-Cup star came from ten shots back with a magnificent final round of 67 and won his first Major in the four hole play-off.

Making his 25th Open appearance after debuting back in 1992, Lawrie has eight European Tour wins to his name. He has hosted his own European Tour event each year since 2015, the Paul Lawrie Match Play.

Local boy Paul Waring can expect a warm reception from the home crowd during his second appearance in a Major championship – the first being at Royal Birkdale nine years ago. After a couple of frustrating years through injury, the Bromborough native has enjoyed a successful 2017 with four top-10 finishes on the European Tour, including a tied second at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.

“Wilson Staff is fortunate to have Padraig returning to the scene of his last Open victory, Paul as another former champion making a milestone appearance and both Paul from just down the road and Brendan from the States enjoying a good season so far, to make it a really exciting week for the brand,” said Global Commercial Director, Doug Wright.

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A graduate of Cardiff University’s highly respected post-graduate magazine journalism course, Andy has successfully edited four different publications across the B2B, trade and consumer sectors. He is skilled at all aspects of the magazine process in addition to editing websites and managing social media channels.