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Padraig Harrington fired a first round 68, for four under par score at the AT&T Pebble Bach National Pro-Am in California on Thursday.
Currently ranked 289th in the world the Dubliner arrived on the Monterey peninsula following missed cuts in the Phoenix Open and last week’s Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines.
Having grabbed three birdies on the front nine – at the fourth, sixth and eighth holes – to turn in 33, Harrington suffered his first bogey on the 13th but bounced back with birdies on the 14th, from 16 feet, and the 15th, a tap-in from 18 inches, to move to four under.
But he failed to take advantage of birdie opportunities on his closing holes which led to a degree of frustration.
“I’d three good chances on the last three holes,” said Harrington, adding: “It looked as if I made all three but none went in. That can happen. It is one of those days if I finished five-under, I would have been very happy. And I am very disappointed with four-under. But surely a shot can’t make that much difference over 72 holes.”
Harrington’s round left him four shots adrift of clubhouse leader JB Holmes, who shot an opening round 64, eight under, at Pebble Beach. It was the lowest opening round of his professional career, as the American continued his good form from Torrey Pines where he lost out in a playoff to Jason Day.
Shane Lowry opened his inaugural visit to the event with a three-under par 69.
The Offalyman – ranked 40th in the world - card birdies on the second (from five feet), eighth (from 15 feet), 13th (from 16 feet) and 18th (from three feet) to go with his lone bogey, on the 16th where he was in rough off the tee.
Paul McGinley's difficult week continued signing for a round of 73 with a set of new clubs,
McGinley attended San Diego University on a golfing scholarship before pursuing a professional career.
“I was on Trackman for quite a while getting the yardages right and then the adjustment for the heavy sea air, which makes things complicated,” explained McGinley of having to switch to clubs of a more recent design to the ones which were stolen.
Holmes assumed the clubhouse lead in the pro-am, a shot ahead of surprise packets John Daly (65), ranked 839rd in the world, and Dudley Hart.
