When Padraig Harrington won the Open so thrillingly at Royal Birkdale my mind went back to Bob Torrance, the growly coach of the Irishman and father of Sam. Bob would have been pleased, if not delighted, at his pupil's success.

Imagine a wintry day in Largs in Scotland. Two men are on the practice ground at the golf club. The wind is biting. There is a hint of rain in the air. Most sensible people are inside, probably watching football or rugby on television. One of these two men is in his 70s, has a cigarette in his mouth and growls out his instructions in a voice that sounds as though it should be doing voice-overs on television. The other has a higher tone, a questioning mind and sticks his tongue out as he swings at a golf ball.

If the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, the 137th Open Championship, and the 136th for that matter, was won on the practice ground at this Ayrshire golf club where Bob Torrance has been present for many years and several young professionals - and good amateurs for that matter - have been to demonstrate their swings to one of the best coaches in the world.

This practice ground has shaped one Open champion twice. If golf gave out blue plaques of the sort that go on houses in London this practice ground would carry one saying: Largs, where Open champions are made.

It was what he had learned from Bob Torrance that enabled Harrington to hit those two magnificent strokes at the conclusion of the Open. Two strokes that he may dream about for the rest of his life. Two shots that answered the questions: what have you got and you had better show it now if you want to be considered any good.

Facing a narrow target, a heavily bunkered green full of undulations well over 200 yards in the distance, Harrington took his courage in his hands. He, an Irishman, trusted the swing forged in the winds, the rain and the occasional sunshine of the west of Scotland. When he knew he should play a 5-wood shot, he produced a stunner, one that flew arrow straight at its target and, as near as no matter, disappeared into the hole. It didn't actually but it was so close that his putt for an eagle was a formality.

Ten minutes later he was at it again. The swing that was tried and tested in Largs delivered when it needed to once again, this time with a 5-iron from nearly 200 yards. Harrington said that when his drive landed on the fairway of the 72nd hole he knew he had won the Open. But when his 5-iron second shot to the 72nd green found its target it put the matter beyond dispute.

One of the most popular men in golf had won the Open for his coach and mentor, another of the great and good in golf.

Bob Torrance and Padraig Harrington won the 136th and now the 137th Open. What odds on this pair coming up trumps at Turnberry in 2009?