An elbow that refuses to fold under and a pinched nerve in his neck failed to stop Padraig Harrington from making inroads in Ryder Cup qualification in yesterday's first round of the Belgacom Open here at Royal Zoute.
The Dubliner with the Hollywood smile has been down in the dumps of late, after a victory in Brazil and two early-season second-place finishes.
Harrington, whose victory over Mark O'Meara failed to save Europe from defeat in last year's Ryder Cup in the United States, inauspiciously marked the outset of the qualifying process for next year's match at The Belfry by missing the cut in the European Masters in Switzerland.
So indifferent has been his form that he bypassed last week's Lancome Trophy in Paris to spend two days with his coach, Bob Torrance, father of cup captain Sam, in Ayrshire.
Yesterday's six-birdie 65 left him a stroke behind young South African Hennie Otto, who had seven birdies in his last 10 holes. It was the perfect way to resume hostilities.
But it owed more to an errant putter's return to form and a courageous refusal to bow to the pain in his neck than to the silky regrooving of his swing.
"Bob and I principally worked on getting my right elbow to fold properly in the back swing," explained Harrington, who offered a reprieve to the putter he "put on notice" after an indifferent debut in Munich.
"I worked on the practice ground on what Bob said then tried to figure out how to stop thinking about it when I got on the course; I played appallingly in the pro-am."
Favourite Lee Westwood birdied six holes out of 10 from the seventh after missing four times from inside five yards to move alongside Harrington on 65, going within three feet of an ace at the 16th.
A three-carat heart-shaped diamond is on offer for a one there, which was no comfort to Welshman Paul Affleck, Frenchman Jeff Remesy and Spain's Ivo Giner, who holed in one at the other three par-threes on the course.
Westwood's display was his lowest round since an opening score of 63 on the first day of August's Scandinavian Masters - an event he led throughout to claim his fourth Tour win of the season.
"I am pleased with the way I played, and it is probably the best I have played for a few weeks now," he said.
Westwood also seized the first-round initiative over Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie, rivals for this year's Volvo Order of Merit title.
Montgomerie recorded a disappointing 69, having shared the lead at five under par after eight holes, while Clarke headed straight for the range following his even more uninspiring 73.
England's Laura Davies has one last chance to continue what is arguably the most enduring record in professional golf when she tees-off today in the Evian Tour's Mexx Sport Open in Holland.
This will be Davies' last ranking event in Europe this year and the four-time Major winner is determined to finish her season in style.
Joining Davies at Kennemer Golf Club will be the form player of the 2000 Evian Tour, Sophie Gustafson of Sweden.
