Harrington defies odds on home turf
ONE day after ridiculing the idea that odds of 100-1 represented any sort of value on him winning the Irish Open, Padraig Harrington opened with a marvellous 63 for a one-stroke lead after round one. Perhaps there are a few canny punters out there who know the Ryder Cup captain better than he knows himself. Harrington’s reasoning for dismissing his chances seemed logical, given he’s barely played this year as he recovers from a slow-healing wrist injury. It is also just the first round and, as he showed last year when he shot 68-78 to miss the halfway cut by one, it’s wise not to read too much into the opening 18 holes. But the two-time Open champion has always been a different golfer when beside the sea and there’s a spring in the turf and his stride. This funky links is right up his alley. What a delight on a day of soft breezes to see him call on that still majestic short game and an array of shots that were a tribute to his skill-set and imagination. The 47-year-old Dubliner is so popular in these parts that, when he went to a Portaloo during his round, there were 20 people waiting for him to emerge to pat him on the back. ‘The crowd were really into the round, that’s for sure,’ said Harrington. ‘I began hoping to give them something to cheer and then had to try to calm them down. I just wish it was Sunday and I’d shot 63.’ Elsewhere, Ian Poulter finished with three birdies to match the 66 shot by another local favourite, Shane Lowry, and in-form Scot Robert MacIntyre. Tommy Fleetwood shot 67.