Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington is at odds with Miguel Angel Jimenez in a controversy that’s engulfed a 13-year old Chinese amateur competing in this week’s Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Jimenez posted a first round 65 to be sharing second place on day one but declared on the eve of the Alpine event Wo-cheng Ye should ‘be back home in China playing golf with other 13-year olds.”

Padraig Harrington at odds with Miguel Angel Jimenez in decision to invite 13-year old to compete in Switzerland. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Ye, who became the youngest-ever competitor on the European Tour when he teed-up still aged 12 in last May’s Volvo China Open, struggled on debut in Europe shooting a horror seven over 78.

However Harrington, who signed for a 70 to be trailing seven shots behind India’s Anirban Lahiri, is on the side of sponsors Omega.

“I was looking at that kid the other day thinking he looks 13 and I found out he is 13,” said Harrington.

“But then all kids develop at different ages and have different priorities.  You will find that people who have had a successful career in sport would say not to rush into it.

“I would advise a lot of young people there’s no need to turn pro until you’re around 22 years of age or so.

“But in saying that other kids do grow up quicker and peak earlier in their career, so who are we to judge as this could be the best golf he is ever going to play in his life.

“So why take away the opportunity and it’s great promotion for the event and for the young lad, and I would mix the two opinions about him playing here and that is he could do well to play a lot of golf competing with his peers and a little competing alongside us.”

Harrington signed off for a one under par 70 in his first appearance in the event in 13 years.

“The golf was okay today with some good and some bad,” he said.

“But then everything was average, completely average.  Average, average, average. No highlights and no lowlights. Average, average, average.”

And average was the word Harrington used to describe the course practice range, so much so he was avoiding the facility that become a ski area in winter and instead was just going to work on his chipping and putting.

Michael Hoey is the best of the Irish swapping last week’s Lamborghini for economy class travel and a four under par 67.

“No, it’s back to economy class seating on the train from Geneva up to here to Crans and then walking to the course every day,” smiled Hoey.

“But I saw the same top-of-the-line Lamborghini I was driving last week, worth a cool Euro 180,000, and it had my head turning.

“I was just trying so hard not to crash it last week as there’s no parking sensors and I had to get people to say if I was okay, but then it was unbelievable to drive it.

“Though that was not really me as I’m not the peacock type.

“And while I was disappointed to miss the cut, I was pleased to lend my support as 21,000 spectators is a lot more they get at European Tour events.”

Fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke is next best posting a two under par 69.