GOLF: European Order of Merit leader Retief Goosen, locked in a rankings battle with Padraig Harrington, stormed from the Club de Campo course yesterday after the Madrid Open first round, furious at being given a slow-play warning.

Goosen, the defending champion, threatened he might even quit the tour after his bad time was confirmed at the recording tent.

The South African was also clearly upset because of his words the previous day when he had labelled Harrington "the slowest player on the European Tour".

Goosen was given his bad time on the 15th hole by Spanish tournament director Jose Maria Zamora, but stayed in control of his emotions long enough to shoot a five-under-par 66, although he missed a six-foot birdie putt on the last to deny himself the same score as Harrington.

The Dubliner's 65 left him only a stroke off the first round leader Lee Westwood, who is continuing to build on his change of form brought about by Europe's Ryder Cup success. It is the first time he has led a tournament since the autumn 2000 Belgian Open.

When Goosen, playing alongside Westwood, was confronted by Zamora after signing his card, the normally mild-mannered South African finally lost his cool.

"Perhaps I'll go and play somewhere else," said Goosen, adding: "Good night everybody," before heading for the locker-room.

Zamora was left to do the explaining: "Retief was given a bad time on the 15th with his second shot, on which he took 60 seconds when he is only allowed 40 seconds. I had to tell him because with two warnings there is a one-shot penalty.

"His group were 21 minutes over schedule and I told them we were struggling with television coverage.

"The group went on the clock on the 14th because they were 21 minutes behind for 13 holes."

Although Harrington's group, playing right behind Goosen and Westwood, were also put on the clock, Zamora said none of them had bad times.

Westwood, though, also picked up a slow-play warning on the 18th when he took 98 seconds to play his second shot from a bunker.

The tournament leader, while refusing to let the incident spoil his best day for nearly two years, was unhappy with his treatment and sympathised with playing-partner Goosen.

"A rules official didn't agree I had that difficult a shot at the 18th," said Westwood. "So I got a bad time. I think there should be some leeway if you're leading a tournament and a little bit of discretion should be used.

"And, anyway, we were one and a half holes in front of the group behind, so I don't understand why we were warned.

"Over Retief's bad time, the wind was swirling around, with the flag on the back edge and the ball could have spun right back down the slope, so he had to get it right and sometimes you have to back off.

"We all know who the slow players are on the European Tour are but no one seems to be able to catch them.

"Maybe someone should hide in a bush and catch them because they know the routines to avoid being caught and no one in a buggy on the fairway is going to catch them."

Harrington refused to be drawn into the conflict, saying: "Do I care? No."

When Goosen proved to be still unapproachable to Zamora later on, the official said he would have "a quiet word" with the South African before the second round.

Harrington was delighted with his day's work as well, concentrating as he is on the Order of Merit battle. Asked about Goosen's slow play comments, he said: "It's a distraction, but there are a load of distractions to get over and you have to dig down deep and focus. I did that very well today. The only thing on my mind was my golf and I'm not interested in what happens to other people.

"I don't need anybody else to motivate me - I am a very motivated person."