Golf:Perhaps still smarting after missing both World Golf Championships due to his slide down the world rankings, Padraig Harrington gave notice that he remains a force to be reckoned with by carding a flawless 10 under round of 61 to lead the Transitions Championship in Florida by three shots.
The three-time Major champion, now down at 90th in the world, shot his lowest ever round on the PGA Tour to set the course record on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook. The highlight came on the 17th green where the Dubliner rolled in a 75-foot birdie putt but his all-round game was in fantastic shape as he birdie to final three holes to set a blistering pace.
Harrington’s nearest challenger is the unheralded American Will Claxton on seven under. Luke Donald, who needs to win to regain the world number one spot from Rory McIlroy, was among the later starters and had reached one under after five holes. Justin Rose, winner of the WGC Cadillac Championship last week, was also on one under.
Without a win since the Iskandar Johor Open on the Asian Tour in 2010, Harrington admits the last 18 months have been frustrating but insisted he has never lost the faith during those difficult times.
“Where do I start,” he said after today’s round. “I've been playing nicely in practice . . . I play better on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday than I do on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
"I'm trying to stay patient. I know my game is good. One of the hardest things is to wait with confidence. A lot of my good weeks are struggling just to get inside the Top‑10 and that's kind of just showing up in my world rankings, because unless you're finishing first, second or third you are not getting substantial points in that sense.
“So, yeah, it's been a strange last year, but as I said, I'm very comfortable where my game is at. I've made a lot of good improvements and I'm feeling like things are ready to happen. “
Harrington’s score was the lowest he has ever managed on any tour, or indeed as an amateur, and he did concede afterwards that the magical number of 59 had strayed into his thoughts as he got his run going.
“I had an 8‑footer up the hill on the 11th, as easy a putt as you could get, and I got over it and started thinking, if I hole this, I'm 7‑under par, seven holes to go. I only need to make five more birdies (for a 59) and was nearly playing the hole.
I just got totally out of where I should have been, hit a bad putt and missed,” he explained. “But if anything, it kind of got the 59 out of my head. So as much as I did choke on is that correct it made it easier for the rest of the holes because I really think 59 was on after that.
“But it's something, as far as I'm concerned, shooting 59 would be a career highlight. Any player who has ever done that, I put them right up there on a pedestal; it's something else to be able to shoot 59. As many birdies as I made today, you still have to make more. It's tough going.”
