Padraig Harrington

Twenty-four hours after his credentials as a Ryder Cup contender were talked up by European skipper Padraig Harrington, Bob MacIntyre grabbed the chance to impress one of his vice-captains with both hands.

RORY McIlroy will head into the Open Championship at Muirfield on the back of a missed cut at the Irish Open – and was joined in making an early exit by fellow major winners Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.