JOIN USHarrington, who won the Claret Jug for the first time at Carnoustie in 2007 before making a successful defense at Royal Birkdake last year, is scheduled to tee off at 1420 local (1320 GMT).
The 37-year-old Irishman is seeking to become the first golfer to win a hat-trick of Open titles since Australian Peter Thomson achieved the feat with a run of three successive victories from 1954-56.
The biggest galleries of the week are likely to follow world number one Tiger Woods, who will play the first two rounds with Britain's Lee Westwood and Japanese teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa.
India’s top golfer Jeev Milkha Singh was paired with multiple PGA tour winner Rory Sabbatini of South Africa and Englishman Anthony Wall for the first two rounds.
Gaganjeet Bhullar is the only other Indian in the fray, having qualified by virtue of his triumph in the Asian leg of the International Qualifying in Sentosa in April.
The Kapurthala pro will have Walesman Rhys Davies and American Driscoll for company.