Ayrshire links ate me alive but now I'm safe from Harm

Brian heads to Troon as Open champ after 2006 Prestwick pain

- CRAIG SWAN

BRIAN HARMAN admits arriving at Royal Troon as an Open champion will feel sweet after being eaten alive at Prestwick.

The American will return to Ayrshire with the Claret Jug following his magnificent 2023 success at Hoylake.

But it wasn't linked love at first sight with his opening effort an unmitigated disaster.

Back in 2006, as a college kid, Harman was part of a US side annihilated by Europe in the Arnold Palmer Cup.

Tagged Brian the Butcher at Hoylake, the lefty was slaughtered and said: "It ate me to pieces. I got whipped over there, I got killed, lost all my matches.

"I'd just like to not have to hit it right-handed off that wall because I felt like I did that four straight days! The train tracks and that wall ate my lunch off that first tee.

"Now I absolutely love it. It's a thinking man's game.