British Open Countdown: Defending champion Padraig Harrington today admitted he would love the British Open championship to be "pushed back" a few weeks as he struggles to recapture the form which brought him three major championships.

Harrington won the Open at Carnoustie in 2007, successfully defended the title a year later at Birkdale — the first European to do so since 1906 — and then won the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills three weeks later.

However, the Dubliner then embarked on radical swing changes over the winter and has struggled badly this season. He is currently ranked 175th out of 204 in driving accuracy on the European Tour and missed five cuts in a row before last week’s Irish PGA championship.

The 37-year-old did win that event for the third year in succession, albeit against a field largely made up of club professionals, but admits his preparation for Turnberry has not been ideal.

“I would love it if someone could push back the Open for a couple of weeks but I don’t have that option so we’ll have to go with what we have got on Thursday afternoon,” said Harrington, who was still working on his swing yesterday.

“I know if I get into position I can win and that’s a nice thing. Others can get there but they can’t win. Can I get into position is what’s in doubt.

“Turnberry is very fair, it’s the ideal golf course. It lets you make birdies when you are playing well and punishes you when you play badly. Hit a wild one you’re going to struggle to get it back on the fairway.

“There will be birdies made this week from the fairway, the penalty will be missing those fairways. The guy who drives it well this week has an advantage, much more than at any Open course I have seen for a long time.”