Golf: Pádraig Harrington failed to take advantage of a quick start at the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina with a one-under-par opening round of 69.

The Dubliner, who needs a good weekend to climb back into the top-125 of the FedEx Cup rankings, was left six shots off the clubhouse lead held by American Jeff Quinney, who carded a 63.

England’s Paul Casey, who is also chasing a place in the lucrative play-offs, is in second place after a 65.

Harrington began on the 10th and almost immediately made progress with birdies at 11, 13 and 15. He missed another birdie putt at the 18th and went downhill from there, with bogeys at the third and fourth to come home in 37.

The three-time Major winner is 130th in the rankings and needs to make it into the top-125 to qualify for the play-offs.

Casey, who also played the back nine first, is 147th and made far more progress today. He carded three birdies before a dropped shot at the 18th, before bouncing back with an eagle and a birdie at five and six.

American Lee Janzen could have shared the lead with playing partner Quinney but dropped back to five under with bogey at the last.