Harrington is happy to upset odds
PADRAIG HARRInGton could scarcely believe it when he saw odds of 66-1 against his name before the start of the Dubai Duty Free Irish open. ‘Place a bet on me,’ was the advice the two-time winner of the open gave to the nation.
there’s plenty to do yet before the bet comes up but, to the delight of the one or two people in these parts who quite like a wager, the veteran must have caused a furrow or two to form on the odd bookmaker’s brow with a wonderful four-under-par 68.
It left him just one shot behind the leader, new Zealander Ryan Fox — son of former All Black legend, Grant.
‘I think the bookies were pricing me for an inland course but my performances always improve when it comes to a links,’ said the 46-year-old Dubliner. ‘Either that, or I’m a lot worse than I thought.’
the fate of the tournament host Rory McIlroy, alas, was all too predictable. He was imperious from tee to green but woeful with a putter in his hand. the good news for the event is he remains in touch following a 70 — but he knows his scorecard could have added up to a real statement of intent if the 14th club had functioned even three-quarters as efficiently as the other 13.
All you need to know is he shot two under while missing no fewer than seven putts inside ten feet, and a few of those were a good deal shorter than that.
‘You have to take the positives. It was the best I’ve hit the ball in a long time,’ said the northern Irishman. ‘It’s the first time I’ve played on links greens in a while and the breaks are more subtle. I thought I hit a lot of good putts, but they just didn’t go in.’
McIlroy talked on the eve of the event of wanting to go out and play with the carefree manner he had as a teenager. In the privacy of the locker room, he could certainly have been forgiven a teenage tantrum.
Links golf often brings out the best in the more seasoned campaigners and Lee Westwood was in tranquil mood. Lost in France last week, where he performed poorly, he was much more at home beside the sea as he matched Harrington’s score of 68.
now 45, it was the first time in ten years at the Irish open he had played a bogey-free round.
Another on the same mark is former Masters champion Danny Willett, who is gradually clawing his way out of the darkness. How good to see him playing golf with a smile on his face again, following two years of turmoil.
Among those a shot further behind after an impressive 69 was Scott Jamieson, while his fellow Scots Richie Ramsay and Marc Warren finished with 70s and Russell Knox a 71.
Banter of the day came from thomas Pieters and an Irish fan, after the former’s wayward drive at the ninth finished in the spectator’s pocket. ‘How did that even end up there?’ queried the Belgian. Back came the priceless reply: ‘How would I know… you hit it.’