Padraig Harrington had a photographer to thank after finding a lost ball within seconds of the new 3-minute time limit on day one of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at the Renaissance Open.
Harrington was out from the 10th and starting with a birdie but after birding the par-3 15th, the Dubliner was way left off the 16th tee, and with the three-minute ‘search’ clock ticking Harrington was getting anxious.
“The three minutes now to find your golf ball is very short and it goes really quickly as I had a situation on 16 where I hit it left off the tee, and I had everyone looking for my ball,” he said.
Padraig Harrington sharing the lead heading to final round 2018 Czech Masters.
“Thanks to a photographer who found it because I was sweating that it getting so close to the three minutes.
“As it is, I managed to make birdie on the hole and that was good as I had birdied 16, so make back-to-birdies really helped.
“I have the photographer a ball but if I see him later in the week, I owe him a beer”.
Harrington headed to the turn to birdie his 10th, drop a shot at 11 but then managed birdies at his 13th and 14th holes.
“I am happy with a 67 and while it definitely could have been better it definitely could have been worse as I hit it in the heavy rough a couple of times,” said Harrington.
Paul Dunne was in discussion with a Tour referee after his round and where he was three-under par standing on his 17th tee only to walk-off with a double-bogey ‘6’.
Graeme McDowell is well down the board bogeying his closing two holes in a 73, and staring at a second missed cut in two weeks ahead of next week’s Open at Royal Portrush.
And former Masters winner, Trevor Immelman was the toast of the Tour sending crates of beer to the media, tour officials and the caddy lounge after an ace at the par-3 15th on route to a five-under 66.
