Why hole No. 1 is playing a big part in this year's Open Championship

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PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Congratulations, J.J. Spaun, you've made it to the Open Championship for the first time in your career. Here's the first hole at Royal Portrush -- there's out of bounds on both sides. Make sure you hit it straight.

In your honor, Padraig Harrington; how does setting your alarm for 4 in the morning so you can hit the first ball of the entire tournament toward this tight, bowling alley of a corridor at 6:35 in the morning sound?

"There was plenty of second thoughts, 'Why did I say yes?' Because of the tee shot. There's got to be easier ones," Harrington said. He spent his time on the range before hitting about 40 3-irons intermittently to…