Padraig Harrington arrived back to the PGA Tour on what is the first leg of a 27,000 klm, two tournament and three continents round trip journey from the family home in Dublin.
After the defence of his Honda Classic title Harrington spent last week home in Ireland.
He then left Ireland headed for this week’s Valspar Championship – a journey of 6,675 klms – before heading next week to the co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour India Open in New Delhi – a trip of some 13.376 klms – before he then returns to Dublin – a journey of 7,073 klms – given he has not qualified for the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship.
Padraig Harrington faced a testing putt he holed for par in a round of 74.
But Harrington’s first thoughts are on this week’s event in Palm Harbor where he signed for a three over par 74.
Harrington was three over when he doubled the 10th and then went birdie, bogey, birdie and bogey from the 13th before holing a testy six-footer for par at the last.
“It was a windy enough day but they set up the golf course very much for the conditions but in the overall picture I didn’t score very well, and just didn’t get up-and-down enough,” he said.
“It was nice to hole that one at the last but I left three or four shots out there.
“So on a day like this you are going to have to get it up-and-down but really I didn’t do that.
“And I’ve enjoyed coming back here as I hold the course record here and that was shooting 61 on the first day in 2012, so I enjoy the challenge of the course.”
Graeme McDowell ended his round moments ahead of a struggling Jordan Spieth having been two under par after five holes but back to even through seven holes.
Graeme McDowell ends also with a round of 74.
He ended his first competitive round on the course boasting ‘The Snake Pit’ dropping shots at his 14th, 16th and closing holes.
“It was a tough office out there and while I played quite well at times, I hit a couple of sloppy drives near the end of my day and paid the penalty,” he said.
“But then the bunkers are going to be a real big factor this week as the sand is sand is very fluffy, and you’re going to get lie with the ball plugging a lot, so they’ve been set-up as real hazards.”
And Darren Clarke was asked to attend a random drugs test after his round six over par 77.
