Network 2 - 9 p.m., BBC2 - 9 p.m - 10.30 p.m., BBC1 - 10.30 p.m. GOLF/US Masters: Padraig Harrington got off to a sensational start in the 66th US Masters yesterday, and with just two holes to play in his opening round was four under par, one shot behind leader Davis Love.

Poignantly, on a day when one old Master simply couldn't hang around any longer, and certainly didn't want to get a letter in the post telling him his time was up, the newer breed of golfer refused to capitulate to changes incorporated over the course this year to make their job harder.

As Arnold Palmer struggled but saved face by at least breaking 90, before announcing this would be his last appearance in the championship, others were managing to discover a way to beat the majestic course.

And, for quite some time, no one did it quite as well as Harrington. In ideal conditions, with the rain of the previous day dampening the greens to make them more receptive than during the practice days and just a gentle breeze, the Dubliner - competing in his third Masters - strode to the top of the leaderboard with all the authority of a pupil who has learned his trade and who has decided the time has come to teach others a lesson or two.

Harrington covered the front nine in a best-of-the-day 31 and, when he rolled in a viciously breaking putt from 15 feet on the 11th to move to six-under, he was a clear leader by three shots.

However, the wind came out of his sails coming out of Amen Corner. His aggressive approach to the 13th found Rae's Creek and, then, forced to go back to the drop zone, he failed to save par.

It was his first bogey of the round and, with his momentum halted, he quickly incurred another dropped shot on the 14th, to fall one shot behind on-course leader Love, who was birdieing the 14th and 15th holes as Harrington dropped his shots.

Meanwhile, Darren Clarke's round refused to ignite, but he was still one-under-par after 13.

Retief Goosen, the winner of last week's BellSouth Classic, maintained his good form by taking the early clubhouse lead on three-under-par, and a host of players signed for 70, including defending champion Tiger Woods, Chris DiMarco, Scott Verplank, Ernie Els and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Remarkably, Goosen included four bogeys in his round, but contradicted such mediocrity with no fewer than seven birdies.

"Perfect," is how the South African - who has been on a global winning streak since taking the US Open title last June - described the conditions, and, although quite a number of players struggled, with recent Players' champion Craig Perks floundering to an 81 and David Duval enduring a nightmare opening four holes in signing for a 74, other players made the most of the chances that came their way.

In five previous Masters appearances, Sweden's Jesper Parnevik had managed only one top-20 finish.

Yesterday, for a long time, it seemed he would struggle again as he slipped to two over after five holes. Once he discovered how to putt, however, he couldn't stop holing out and covered the homeward stretch in 33 for his 70.

"My first three, four, five years, it felt like I was playing in the dark. I was just hitting it and hoping. I was a little too scared of this golf course," claimed Parnevik, who was forced to get what he called a "routine" up and down from 156 yards on the last, where he drove into trees, to stay on the heels of those ahead.

Likewise, Woods had to work hard for his score. "I just kind of grinded my way around the golf course, made some mistakes, but just hung in there," stated Woods, who was three-under after five holes but fell back to level par after 14 before grabbing birdies at the 15th and 17th to get back into the thick of the action.

"The first round is all about keeping yourself in the tournament, and I have done that," added Woods.

All of which was in some contrast to the parting of Palmer, who failed to have even the solace of a single birdie in his round - and which prompted him to call time on his future appearances once he has completed today's second round.

Palmer's exit had a touch of sadness about it. A four-time champion, he had struggled to hold back the tide yesterday, after four-putting the first green and eventually signing for an 89, he admitted the time to call it a day had come.

"My golf has been pretty lousy as of late, and it doesn't warrant me being here playing," Palmer admitted candidly. The score, he claimed, was "enough to push me over the edge", although he added: "It doesn't mean I will quit golf . . . I will still play for fun."

In taking the decision to exit from future Masters himself, Palmer was avoiding the fate that befell a number of oldtimers this year when Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson wrote to them asking them not to play. Gay Brewer was so upset he did not even attend the traditional champions dinner.

"I don't want to get a letter," quipped Palmer in announcing that the second round would be his last in the championship.

Johnson responded: "It would be impossible to enumerate all the contributions Arnold Palmer has made to the Masters. He has provided us with countless years of excitement and thrills and has shown us how the game of golf is supposed to be played. We owe a debt to Arnold, he will always have a very special place in Masters history."

There was no surprise from Woods when informed of the decision.

"In time, it will be neat to tell my grandkids I played with the great Arnold Palmer, even if it was only on the par three course, in his last Masters," said Woods, a reference to being paired with Palmer on Wednesday.

When asked if he could envisage playing competitively at Palmer's age, Woods replied: "I hope I am on this side of the grass at 72."