Padraig Harrington speaks with wonder about the mystique of St Andrews - but insists it won't take magic for him to win The Open at the home of golf at 50.
The three-time major champ added a US Senior Open to his glittering CV a fortnight ago and, as a two-time Open winner, will fancy his chances on the Old Course.
The way he describes it, the famous venue is like a golfer's Disneyland - only better.
"It has a mystique," said the Dubliner. "It’s not just the golf course, it’s the town - the fact that the golf course is in the town.
"Everybody there is into golf, talks about golf, loves golf. The whole place. Everyone walking in, whether it’s tourist or local, it’s all about golf.
"You go to the golf course, you know the history of the course. It’s fantastic in itself.
"There's nothing like it in golf. It’s amazing, being the original and really there is nothing like it.
"Plenty have tried to copy it, I’m sure, but it’s unique. Maybe it’s the history that has done that. It's the whole package.
"You stand on the first tee, it’s the widest fairway in golf, and you're nervous that you’re going to hit it out of bounds.
"You stand on the 18th and you’re aiming at the clock in the R&A clubhouse. It’s an unbelievable place, and everywhere there is something going on. There's a magic about it."
Having said all that, Harrington gives the 17th at St Andrews - the infamous Road Hole - the nod over Carnoustie's final hole as the best on the Open rota.
"Because of the pain it has caused so many people over the years," he stressed.
"You can play 70 holes in tournament golf in the Open championship and you’re still going to be worried about the 71st hole.
"You can’t win that tournament until you play the 17th. It’s a phenomenal golf hole to come at that stage."
As for winning another Open in his sixth decade, Harrington points to Tom Watson coming very close at Turnberry in 2009 and Phil Mickelson winning the US PGA last year.
"It's certainly possible," he said. "I don't have a barrier of 50 years of age.
"In my head the only barrier I have to winning tournaments is a little bit of nerves, how I manage my mental side. So it's not a physical side that's an issue.
"Every time I tee it up, I think it's going to be the week. I think I can do it.
"It's probably at my stage a little easier to win a major than it is to win a regular event because everybody else is going to be feeling it as well.
"I tend to perform better when I've got my back to the wall and I know coming down the stretch in a major everybody else is going to feel the same way as I do."
READ NEXT:
Shane Lowry hoping to quiz Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus while aiming low at St Andrews
Kilkenny defeat even more crushing than Munster final heartache for Clare's Tony Kelly
Rafael Nadal to withdraw from Wimbledon as Nick Kyrgios to be given bye to final
Danny Mandriou move to Lincoln confirmed as Dara McGuinness joins Stoke
Boynesider Ryan Brennan enjoys the 'fuel and fire' of taking on Dundalk
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
