EUROPEAN TOUR:PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON'S by now renowned tinkering with his golf swing showed no ill effects after the Dubliner fired an opening 65 to get within one shot of the overnight lead at the €2 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
After an extended winter break was spent refining the technical aspects of his game, Harrington fired out of the blocks with a swing seemingly back in the groove. The three-time major winner carded a flawless seven under round which was only bettered by the in-form Charl Schwartzel’s 64.
The South African arrived in the Middle East fresh from last week’s win in the Joburg Open. He then brought the supposedly demanding 7,590-yard Abu Dhabi layout to its knees with an exemplary display of ball striking.
“I thought I had another low in me,” enthused Schwartzel in reference to the second-round 61 last week.
After a card containing nine birdies and a solitary dropped shot at the 17th, the 26-year-old admitted to a slight playing advantage. “We play a lot more in South Africa over the winter break than other tour players. I’m probably a lot fresher than other guys who are just starting their new season.”
Harrington set off from the 10th and eased to the turn with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 18th. More birdies came at the fourth and fifth before the defining moment of the round at his penultimate hole.
At the par five eighth the 39-year-old had a chip for eagle which hit the flag at speed before dropping into the cup. “It was a shock it went in at that pace,” admitted Harrington, who won the low key Iskander Johor Open in Asia last year but has dropped to 26th in the world rankings.
As part of the changes to his game, Harrington has a new putting routine.
“The first putt of the day I was away with the fairies, but I made the most out of the round – another day that would have been 69,” added Harrington. “One thing showed up in the States last year. I was about 156th in every putting category, so something needed to be done.”
Graeme McDowell came up on the rails with a sensational run of five closing birdies for a six-under 66 to share third alongside the Swedish duo, Alexander Noren and Niclas Fasth.
The US Open champion had a minor scare when his gap wedge touched the ball when setting up his approach to the final green.
“I was conscious that I had put the club down right behind the ball and kinda just feathered it (the ball),” he explained. “The ball doesn’t go anywhere. If it had oscillated off its spot then, of course, I’m in a penalty situation.
“I was fairly sure the ball hadn’t done anything and after (European Tour referee) Andy McFee had a look at the TV footage he was happy the ball had only oscillated as well. Obviously you don’t ever want to be outside the rules and I’m happy there was no infringement.”
As for the positives it was “great to finish with five birdies . . . the two at 14 and 16 where I played six- irons out of bunkers and holed good putts were particularly sweet”.
“You have to drive the ball very well around here, length is a big advantage but bunkers on certain tee shots stop the big hitters from gaining another 30-40 yards and that helps us mediocre 285-290 guys – it gives us a chance,” quipped McDowell.
Defending champion Martin Kaymer was tucked in behind McDowell on five under despite a shank being part of his repertoire. The result was a watery grave and a bogey at the third but the US PGA champion had managed six birdies by that point after starting at the 10th.
World number one Lee Westwood was happy with his opening 69 on a course which doesn’t always suit his eye.
“It’s a course I battle with and it was nice to make that (15-foot) putt on the last – I felt I deserved to break 70,” said Westwood before confirming he will not be playing the Players Championship in Florida in May because of US Tour restrictions placed on him as a non-member.
Paul McGinley finished two under, one ahead of Darren Clarke, Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Rory McIlroy, who couldn’t buy a putt all day. There were yet more booming drives and stealth irons from the 21-year-old but what he wouldn’t give for a silky putting stroke like his mate McDowell.
Michael Hoey was well off the pace on three over – the same mark as European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal — with Peter Lawrie (76) one shot worse on a day when over 70 players managed par or better.
With all four major winners in action, US Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot 71 playing alongside McDowell, while British Open Louis Oosthuizen was level par.
