Palm Beach Gardens, FL …
Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell teed off from the respective 10th and 1st tees at the same time and ended their rounds within minutes of each other with similar scores of a two over par 72 on the first day of the Honda Classic.
The double Honda winning Harrington was three over after just two holes in bogeying his first and finding water guarding the green with his approach at the second ahead of birdies at his ninth, 12th and 13th but also dropping shots at 10 and 14.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the course play as easy with the greens very quick, and that’s given the rain we had late yesterday and overnight”, he said.
“I just didn’t have the pace of them and I was always lagging my putts, so that put me on the back foot straight away.
“I also misjudged a few chip shots early on and that wasn’t really helped by not having a practice round, so that’s what I will work on this afternoon”.
McDowell had moved to two under par through 10 holes with three birdies and a bogey.
However, McDowell to one over by dropping four shots in his next four holes including taking a double bogey ‘6’ at the 11th and just as Harrington had done by not carrying the water hazard.
“I felt I struct the ball very well and it’s about the best I have driven it this year but then after moving to two under after 10, I hit my tee shot at 11 trying to get it on the front edge of the green but just hung it right too much and it found the water”, he said.
“I then lipped-out a few times coming in and it was really just one of those days that got away from me given it was one of my best driving days this year”.
American Cody Gribble hit all 18 greens in regulation to share the lead with a six under par 64 with compatriot Wesley Bryan.
