Harrington Texas Title Hopes Fade

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Padraig Harrington carded three birdies in all during the first round of the Valero Texas Open, but finished four over par in the end after a double bogey and five bogeys left him signing for 76. A total of eight strokes off the joint leaders.

However he was not alone.

Phil Mickelson shot a 5-over 77 on Thursday in Texas to fall nine strokes back during the suspended first round. The 77 was Lefty's highest score since a 78 in August in the PGA Championship.

"I had been playing real well at home, so to come out and play like this is disappointing," Mickelson said. "Just didn't feel quite sharp."

In his previous two starts, Mickelson missed the cut in the Honda Classic and tied for 16th three weeks ago at Doral in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. He made his only other Texas Open appearance in 1992, so long ago that the event was only his 11th professional start on the PGA TOUR.

Pat Perez and Danny Lee shot 4-under 68 to share the clubhouse lead and Andrew Loupe was 4 under with seven holes to play when darkness forced the suspension of play. The start was delayed 2 hours, 40 minutes because of fog, and 45 players were unable to finish the round.

Area resident Cameron Beckman, Puerto Rico Open winner Chesson Hadley, Will MacKenzie and Seung-Yul Noh shot 69, and Miguel Angel Carballo and Justin Hicks also were 3 under. Carballo had four left, and Hicks three.

Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar shot 70.

Defending champion Martin Laird opened with a 72, matching Valspar winner John Senden and Jeff Maggert, a winner last week in Mississippi in his Champions Tour debut.

Ernie Els shot 74, and former Texas star Jordan Spieth had a 75.

Area resident Jimmy Walker had a 76. He has a tour-high three victories this season, winning the Frys.com Open, Sony Open and Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Mickelson hit half of the greens in regulation on the Greg Norman-designed TPC San Antonio, bogeyed three of the four par 3s and closed with a double bogey on the par-4 ninth.

"I didn't putt well," said Mickelson, who had 17 putts on the second nine that he played in 4-over 40. "I had a couple of three-putts that hurt. Iron play wasn't great. I didn't drive it bad, until that last hole."

On the 462-yard ninth, his drive sailed so far right he hit a provisional. He didn't need it, but it took him three to find the green and he ended up three-putting, missing from 10 and 2 feet.

"Just blocked it," he said.

He also will play next week in the Houston Open before heading to Augusta National.

The fog kept temperatures in the 50s before it burned off and gave way to sun and readings in the 80s.

"This morning it was freezing, and I hit balls (on the practice range) in four layers of clothes," Perez said. "Now, I'm sweating."

One under after a bogey on the 15th, Perez finished with three birdies on putts from more than 10 feet -- including a 17-footer on the final hole.

Lee, the 2008 U.S. Amateur champion at Pinehurst No. 2, finished with consecutive birdies with putts inside 13 feet on the 17 and 18. He finished second three weeks ago in Puerto Rico.

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Els Regrets Being Rory Easy

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Ernie Els has admitted he regrets not having done more to try and prevent Rory McIlroy's walk-off at last week's Honda Championship.

McIlroy, the defending champion, withdrew from the tournament in Palm Beach midway through his second round, initially saying he was "in a bad place mentally", before later citing a painful wisdom tooth.

The USPGA champion was playing with Mark Wilson and Els at the time and the South African has acknowledged he now wishes he had said something to McIlroy when the 23-year-old opted to quit on the 18th hole at PGA National.

"No, we didn't quite talk to him. But I must say, when I shook his hand on 18, I wanted to say something to him, but I didn't, and I kind of regret that," Els told reporters ahead of this week's WGC-Cadillac Championship.

"It was definitely obviously a heat of the moment thing. He is who he is. You've got to respect what the individual at that moment is like, and he wanted to get off. And we obviously heard that he had his wisdom tooth was bothering him, and if that was the reason, that was that.

"I would have been out of my depth at that stage to say something to him if something was bothering him. So I didn't, but I thought I should have."

Els had been openly critical of McIlroy's decision to quit, before later learning of his toothache problems, but has now insisted the youngster should not be judged too harshly.

The reigning Open champion revealed he had seen McIlroy working hard on his game over the weekend and believes the furore will soon be forgotten once the World No 1 rediscovers some form.

"I saw him at The Bear's Club (Jack Nickluas' private golf club in Florida) over the weekend. He was practicing his tail off," Els added. "He was there right through the whole day, even yesterday we played at Seminole, he was out there in the afternoon.

"So he's obviously working hard at his game. We did talk a little bit in private. We'll see what he says, you know. I played with him Thursday, Friday, so we'll see what he says tomorrow.

"Listen, I was also 22, 23; I'm 43 now. I look back, I did a lot of silly things and what he's done is nothing compared to what I did; speak to my parents.

"But when it comes to being where he's at, you've got to maybe think a little bit more than two minutes. You know, in a couple of years' time, he won't even think about this or talk about this. If he wins this week, it will be the last thing we talk about, it will be history and that's what it should be. It's something that's happened and we should move on from that.

"He's a great kid, he's a great player and if he admits he's made a mistake, then that's that and let's move on."

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Els Shares Wisdom to McIlroy

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Ernie Els and Mark Wilson were McIlroy's playing companions in the second round. Neither said they sensed McIlroy was bothered by a toothache, and both were surprised that McIlroy walked off after nine holes. McIlroy shook both players' hands, said he had enough and walked away.

"I'm a great fan of Rory's, but I don't think that was the right thing to do," Els said after the round. But this was before he was told McIlroy released a statement explaining his withdrew because of wisdom tooth pain.

Els then backtracked a bit.

"Hey, listen, if something was bothering him, you know, it was bothering him and all credit to him trying to play through whatever pain he was in. He obviously couldn't do it after nine holes anymore. Toothache, it's not fun, I guess," Els said. 

"He's feeling terrible about it, I know he is. That's the last thing he wants to do is walk off. Yeah, if he's 7 over or whatever he was, you've got something bothering you, you know, the rules of play, you can walk off at any time. Obviously something was seriously bothering him, and he was not going to make the cut and probably didn't want to continue playing that way. … I've played like that before. It's embarrassing. You don't want to be out there while you feel like, get me out of here."

Els, who has changed equipment as much as any top player in the game, said the scrutiny McIlroy is under might be getting to him.

"It seems like it's kind of building now a little bit," Els said. "I didn't think much of the equipment change. We've all made equipment changes before. I think there was a bit of criticism somewhere, and then I think he's furthering responding to that, and I think he's got a bit of pressure coming on him that way. I thought he played quite well yesterday. I thought he was pretty close to playing good golf, and unfortunately this morning, hopefully he gets it together. We've got next week, got four rounds there. You know, such a talented player, he'll get it figured out."

Graeme McDowell, who played on the opposite side of the morning wave, said he sensed something was amiss with McIlroy as he warmed up on the range.

"He was in good spirits, but I felt he wasn't hitting the ball well. There were some groans coming out of the bay next to me," McDowell said.

The fellow Irishmen haven't spent much time together of late but McDowell understands what McIlroy is going through right now. 

McDowell won the 2010 U.S. Open for his first major, changed equipment and struggled with both his new clubs and his new stature as one of the game's best players. Finally, McDowell said, he had to slap himself in the face and get over it, which he has. McDowell said McIlroy has to do the same thing.

"He's had a funny start to the year," McDowell said. "He missed the cut in Abu Dhabi, the lost to Shane Lowry in Match Play. All of a sudden he's not getting a lot of momentum.

"He just needs to get over the hurdle of playing for others and start playing for Rory McIlroy. He wants to prove to the world he's good enough with Nike equipment. He'll get it worked out."

"He's a smart kid. We all experience this sometime in our careers. To me, it's a mini-crisis. … There's a lot of golf to be played and he's a class player. He's just going through a unique phase in his career. A lot of going on his world and he has the largest spotlight on him.

" … But you don't write him off. He has the "X" factor that so few people have."

McIlroy missed the cut in his first tournament of the year in Abu Dhabi, lost in the first-round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and shot even-par 70 in Thursday's first round of the Honda.

McIlroy, who made an equipment change from Titleist to Nike, has downplayed concerns about his new equipment. Instead, he said he was more concerned with his swing and just needed competitive rounds to get it in shape.

McIlroy is scheduled to play in next week's WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.

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Byrne on Els Abu Dhabi Bag

Colin Byrne joins 2012 Open Champion Ernie Els at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates next week,  The Irish Times reports.

Dubliner Byrne recently parted company with Tom Lewis after about 16 months, where he was on the bag when Lewis won in only his third start since turning professional at the 2011 Portugal Masters.

Ricci Roberts, the longtime caddie for Els, has been recovering from illness following a diagnosis of blood clots just a few months after the major win at Royal Lytham St Anne's last July.  

For the past season Els has been sharing the bag duties with former NHL player Dan Quinn for some time and with Roberts now unavailable Byrne was been added to the Els rota, and reunites with the South African four time major winner.

Byrne enjoyed a successful five years with another South African major champion, Retief Goosen, in a partnership that came to a natural end in September  2008 after The Goose won two US Open major titles.

This week though Ernie Els returns to the venue of his 1998 and 2011 South African Open victories for this week’s Volvo Golf Champions and is looking to start 2013 in winning style.

The South African tees up at Durban Country Club for the first European Tour event after the festive break, 12 months after missing out on this event after Branden Grace denied the Open Champion and Retief Goosen in a three-man play-off.

“I've had a bit of success here in the past, and really glad to be back,” said Els.

“We'll check out the golf course and see what it's like, and see what happens. It's a great event, great field, and nice to play four rounds of golf to start the year off, so we'll see how we go.

“If the wind blows, it's a really tough course. You see what the greens are like and see what the course is like.

“I've had a bit of a break. I'm coming in here with a couple of weeks off but I feel good about my game. 

“I've been shooting scores and I feel I've been hitting the ball nicely. Like I say, you have to get the rust off like everybody, but I feel good. 

“I can't be overconfident but I feel good about my chances and I love the golf course, so that's a positive, and we'll see where the week goes. Got to take one step in the tournament and the next one, and then we'll see where we go.”

Els’ fourth Major triumph at Royal Lytham in July has enabled him to choose his schedule more than this time last year, when he was struggling to get exemptions for some of the big events.

“I've got a great schedule,” he added. “I'm really fortunate to play in South Africa, I didn't play here last year at all, and it's great to be back and to play here. 

“It's nice to kick off the season here, and I've decided to go to the Middle East again. I haven't been there for quite a few years, either, and then we'll go back to the States and start our run to the Masters. 

“Last year, winning The Open, it's opening doors for me again. It's a dream come true, and we've got some really nice things ahead of us now. I'm 43, I'll be 44 this year, and it’s nice to know that you can play in all of the big events.”

Els admits that The Open Championship is set to remain the highlight of his year in 2013, where he will not only be the defending champion, but also won last time it was staged at this year’s venue Muirfield.

“I’m very excited to go back,” he added. “I haven't been back since we won - can't wait to get there to be honest. 

“Obviously there's a lot of golf to be played but it's really a highlight of my year to go to The Open Championship at Muirfield, to go there as the past winner and the last winner as defending champion, it's awesome. 

“I can't wait to get there. That's really one of my favourite Open rota golf courses, there and St. Andrews and Royal Liverpool, so looking forward to getting there.”

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Els Stunned by Lytham Open Win

Ernie Els could hardly believe it after he became Open champion again following Adam Scott's collapse at Lytham.

The 42-year-old South African triumphed after Scott suffered a nightmare collapse over Royal Lytham's closing stretch.

Scott, chasing his first major, looked all set to become the first Australian to hold the Claret Jug aloft since Greg Norman in 1993 when he led by four shots with only four holes to play.

But he bogeyed them all and Els, having made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final green 20 minutes earlier, suddenly found himself with a fourth major title without even having to go into a play-off.

As Nick Faldo said: "Well done Ernie Els, but Adam Scott is going to be scarred for life."

Els commented: "I'm just all numb at the moment. He's a great friend of mine. Obviously we both wanted to win very badly for different reasons and I really feel for him.

"It's the nature of the beast. That's why we are out here. You win, you lose and it was my time.

"I was hoping at best play-off. When I was on the 17th green he was on the 16th tee and, as we all know, it's not the hardest hole."

Having stood 11 under earlier in the day, the Australian signed for a 75 and six under.

Tiger Woods, who also finished poorly in addition to taking a triple bogey, tied for third with fellow American Brandt Snedeker three shots further back, while Scott's playing partner Graeme McDowell ended up fifth with world number one Luke Donald.

In his winner's speech Els told the crowd: "I had a lot of support this week. But you guys have got to ask yourselves the question were you just being nice to me or did you actually believe I could win?".Scott retained his composure admirably, but must have been devastated inside. "I'm pretty disappointed," he said. "I had it in my hands and managed to hit a poor shot at each of the closing four holes.

"I'm very, very disappointed, but I played so beautifully for most of the week I certainly should not let this get me down.

"Surprisingly I was incredibly calm and I still am. I thought I could roll that last putt in, but I didn't and that's golf."

Els Deems Darren Open Dark Horse

Ernie Els has named his dark horse for The Open next week - defending champion Darren Clarke.

The Northern Irishman may have made only one halfway cut all season, but Els said on the eve of the Scottish Open: "That's one place where he's comfortable.

"I know he's struggling with his game, (but) I know he's not that far off.

"He's got that great ball flight and if he gets that same talk he had last year (from American sports psychologist Bob Rotella) who knows? That could just swing things."

The 42-year-old South African hopes to be a contender himself, of course, on the course where he was joint second behind Tom Lehman in 1996 and joint third behind David Duval in 2001.

He won at Muirfield 12 months later, but a decade has now gone by without him adding to his three majors.

Anyone not following his career in that time might have thought he had fallen on hard times given that he arrived in Inverness on Easyjet - the "Big Easy" on Easyjet indeed.

"The boys are all in shock about that," he said. The explanation, however, was that his private jet is now back in the States.

Els threatened to end his barren spell at the US Open last month. A disappointing finish dropped him to ninth, but his play for most of the week reminded him of his prime years.

"There were times I doubted I could get back there, but I really felt like my old self and that's the positive I took out of it."

Like world number one Luke Donald he has had three weeks off since San Francisco and although he is rusty he added: "I'm not necessarily writing myself off this week."

Els Apologises for Green Outburst

Peter Lawrie's playing partner on the final day of the BMW PGA Championship, Ernie Els, has apologised to European Tour officials for his outspoken criticism of Wentworth's greens.

The South African, who has overseen several redesigns of the West Course , was furious at what he perceived to be a lack of watering on Saturday.

An angry Els complained that his calls to soften the greens were ignored.

"Ernie Els asked to see me this morning and apologised for his intemperate language," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.

"He stated that he had already apologised to all the individuals concerned and offered a substantial donation to the European Tour Benevolent Trust, which I accepted.

"The European Tour now consider this matter closed."

Els, who has a house on the Wentworth estate, helped resculpt the course three years ago but his early changes received vocal criticism from a number of top players.

A few more minor tweaks this year were met with approval, but Els was furious with the hard, bouncy condition of the course for this week's BMW Championship.

"I asked them to put water on the greens, so put water on the greens," said the 42-year-old after his third round in baking temperatures.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. The guys are not happy and I'm not happy.

"I landed my second at the 18th probably five yards too far. How much money did we spend on the 18th? We built a dam there. Why the hell was the green not holding?

"My point is, you hit a driver and then a four-iron gets you in the middle of the green. What else must you do next? Must I be the greenkeeper here?

"The Tour has got to play ball - it's not my job. The 15th green is holding, the 16th is not, the 17th is not, the 18th is not.

"They're all inconsistent. I can't keep talking about this. At some point they've got to listen. I do talk, but they don't listen.

"I can't control the wind and it seems like I can't control the greens staff either. They've seen the forecast almost a week in advance, but it's like talking to this wall behind me - I'm fed up.

"This is not a surprise. I've been talking since I landed on Monday - keep the moisture on the greens. It gets to me. I want everybody to have a fair and tough examination.

"Anybody who has half an idea in this game can walk to the 12th green and see - it's dead. Somebody is not doing their job. Why is this happening?"

Tournament director David Garland said on Saturday: "We want a tough and fair set-up. The greens have been hand-watered every night after play.

"This was done last night and because we knew that east winds were forecast, sprinklers were also put on every single green to give them more water.

"Because of the conditions, some fairways were also watered and tees were moved forward on the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th."

Despite being bathed in sunshine over the first three days, the condition of the West Course has been causing concern following weeks of cold and wet weather.

Head greenkeeper Chris Kennedy said it had been "the most difficult build-up I have ever known".