It was a day of contrasting fortunes for Ireland's Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington in the opening round of the Heineken Classic in Perth, Australia, yesterday.

While McGinley started with a steady one-under-par 71 to trail first round leaders Geoff Ogilvy, Wayne Smith and Chris Gray by four shots, it was a nightmare for Stackstown's Harrington, who slumped to an eight-over-par 80.

The Dubliner, who in the windy conditions had three double bogeys, three bogeys and five three-putts, said: "It was a day when you needed to be sharp and I was blunt.

"My last tournament was six weeks ago and I didn't think I was going to shoot the lights out, but 80 is a bit of a shock."

Meanwhile, Michael Campbell is living proof of a new sporting adage - if at first you don't succeed, don't try as hard.

It is starting to pay rich dividends. After winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in November - even with Tiger Woods in the field - Campbell added the New Zealand Open last Sunday and now he is challenging again. A four-under-par 68 has left the 30-year-old New Zealander just a stroke behind the leaders.

"I'm trying less. When you do that things happen for you," said Campbell.

"Most of last year I tried too hard to get my first win on the European Tour. Finally, at the Johnnie Walker Classic, I tried less.

Ernie Els blamed mental fatigue on his own lack-lustre opening 72. "I was not quite into it - maybe I'm still a bit tired from jet-lag," he said.

Greg Norman's determination to make 2000 the year of his big comeback did not have the best of starts. He lost a ball on his very first hole, took a double-bogey seven and had to be content with a 73.

Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal began his season even more disappointingly with a 75 and for once it was his iron play rather than his driving which let him down most.

But Open champion Paul Lawrie birdied three of the last four holes for a 70.

Harrington's score was matched by Justin Rose, who came into the event when Scot Dean Robertson pulled out with illness.