Padraig Harrington takes the lead in Bermuda
Qualified as an alternate for this year’s PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Padraig Harrington shot seven birdies in his round of five-under 66 at the Port Royal Golf Club on Tuesday.
He currently leads the four-man field by two shots. Following him is the Masters champion Bubba Watson.
Harrington is a twice playoff loser at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, in 2007 and 2008. He lost to Angel Cabrera in 2007 and to Jim Furyk in 2008.
However, the Irishman has taken a decent start in Bermuda this year and the ball is on his court now after his first round’s performance.
US Open Champion Webb Simpson shot a round of 69, whereas Keegan Bradley, who is replacing Rory McIlroy, could only manage a 72.
Harrington was all set to play in the BMW Masters in China, until he received a call on Saturday.
Ernie Els had to withdraw due to an ankle sprain. Although it is not serious, but doctors have advised him rest for a couple of weeks.
"It was nice to get off to a good start," Harrington said. "I had a 15-footer at the third and kind of lost my focus a bit on the line and drove it through the line and then hit a bad putt coming back, a terrible bogey. It wasn't feeling great. You need
to be making the birdies at that stage".
The Irishman started off slowly. He bogeyed the third hole, but immediately turned things around with a birdie on the next hole. Harrington bogeyed the 16th hole but the birdies on both sides ensured that his lead does not slip away.
The Masters champion Bubba Watson was in some trouble after his tee shot landed in the awkward area.
From the rough near a cliff, Bubba hit an 8-iron shot, which landed just six feet from the pin. Watson birdied the hole to cut the lead.
It is not the first time that we have seen Bubba making such shots. His shot during the playoffs in the Masters is probably the greatest shot ever.
The big hitter is well known for his majestic shots around the course. "It's only a good shot if you make the putt," Watson said in the end.
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