Week 28 Approach Shots: British Open Championship

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Padraig Harrington goes for his third consecutive British Open title this week when he tees it up at Turnberry's Ailsa Course in Turnberry, Scotland. Harrington won last year's British Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, a year after winning at Carnoustie in Scotland.

Quick Facts

WHAT: 30th of 37 regular-season PGA TOUR events WHEN: July 16-19 WHERE: Turnberry, Ayshire, Scotland COURSE: Turnberry (Ailsa Course) TV: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., TNT; 7 a.m. on Sat., TNT; 9 a.m. on Sat, ABC; 6 a.m. on Sat., TNT; 8 a.m. on Sun., ABC FEDEXCUP POINTS: 600 for winner KEY LINKS: Tee times | Leaderboard | Tournament page VIDEO: Opening Shot

This year, Harrington's top PGA TOUR finish came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational when he tied for 11th. His lone top-10 finish of 2009 was at the European Tour's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, where he tied for fifth.

The Ailsa Course is no stranger to the British Open, first hosting the event in 1977 when Tom Watson outdueled Jack Nicklaus by a stroke. The Open returned there in 1986, with Greg Norman winning the first of two British Open titles. The last time the PGA TOUR visited Turnberry was in 1994, when Nick Price edged Jesper Parnevik by one stroke. The Ailsa Course has also been the site of six Senior British Opens, the last in 2006.

WOODS PRIMED TO POUNCE: Of the 13 consecutive British Opens Tiger Woods played between 1995 and 2007, Woods finished outside the top 25 just twice, both times in Scotland. He tied for 68th at St. Andrews in 1995 and tied for 28th at Muirfield in 2002. Woods has never played an Open at Turnberry, although two of his three victories have come in Scotland, both at St. Andrews.

SIGHTS ON 63: The lowest 18-hole score in any of the four major championships is 63, recorded seven times at the British Open -- and twice at Turnberry. Mark Hayes' came in the second round in 1977, and Greg Norman fired a 63 in the second round in 1986. Of the 21 players who have shot 63 in a major championship, Norman and Vijay Singh are the only players to do it twice.

A TOUGHER TURNBERRY: Turnberry's Ailsa Course has been lengthened by 247 yards since the British Open was last played there 15 years ago. The new layout features six new tees, including a 200-yard drive over the bay near the famous lighthouse at the 10th hole. Another 135 yards has been added to the final three holes, with the par-5 17th stretched from 498 to 559 yard. The 16th changed from a 410-yard, relatively straight hole to a 455-yard dogleg right. The course, which has hosted the British Open in 1977, 1986 and 1994, has an overall length of 7,204 yards.

BACK-TO-BACK: With his win a year ago, Harrington became the 26th player to record multiple British Open titles. Besides his win at Royal Birkdale, he also won the 2007 tournament at Carnoustie. Harrington is just the sixth player to post consecutive victories since 1951, joining Tiger Woods (2005-06), Tom Watson (1982-83), Lee Trevino (1971-72), Arnold Palmer (1961-62) and Peter Thomson (1954-56). Thomson was the only player to win three consecutive Opens during the last two centuries.

Weather forecast for the British Open

THURSDAY, Rd. 1 FRIDAY, Rd. 2 SATURDAY, Rd. 3 SUNDAY, Rd. 4 Light rain/fog Temp: 64 high/53 low Rain Temp: 60 high/53 low Few showers Temp: 62 high/53 low Partly cloudy Temp: 60 high/53 low

DTN/Meteorlogix is the official weather provider of the PGA TOUR. For more information, click here

British Open snippets

FAMILY AFFAIR: Lloyd Saltman and Elliot Saltman are the first brothers to compete in the British Open together since Seve Ballesteros and Manuel Ballesteros played in the same one 26 years ago. ADMIT ONE: Brett Quigley turned down his invitation to the British Open after he was the top finisher at the John Deere Classic who wasn't already exempt into the British Open field. As a result, the tournament gave Quigley's spot to France's Thomas Levet based on his Official World Golf Ranking position. RUNNER-UP RECORD: Jack Nicklaus was a runner-up at the British Open more than any other player, as he finished second seven times to go with his three victories (1966, 1970 and 1978). Nicklaus' runner-up finishes came in 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1977 and 1979. OPEN SUCCESS: Ernie Els has an exceptional British Open record. After missing the cut by two strokes in his 1989 debut, Els has finished outside the top 30 just once with a T34 in 2005. From 1992 to 2008, he won (in 2002), had 11 top-10s and eight top-fives.

In the spotlight

This week: Padraig Harrington

Each week during the 2009 season, PGATOUR.COM will spotlight one key player in the field. For this week's British Open, it's two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington. Learn more about Padraig