Gleneagles victorious Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley posted a bright four under par 68 on day one of the Italian Open, and in his penultimate event of his season.

McGinley, who shared the leading Irish honours with Peter Lawrie, birdied the last and on a tight three-lined Milano GC he seemed to feel right at home.

“It was nice to birdie the last and overall I played quite well, so it was a good day’s work on a nice old-fashioned golf course,” said McGinley.

“This kind of golf course with his tight fairways and small greens has suited me well throughout my career.”

Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington holed three great putts over the closing three holes to post a two under par 70 on day one of the 72nd Italian Open at Monza.

Harrington landed a 6-iron to six feet for an eagle ‘3’ at the 16th to get back into red figures ahead of saving putt with superb putts at 17 and the last hole on the tight tree-lined Milano GC course.

“It was nice to get a score under par and it was important to finish in red figures and if you didn’t you would be a long way back from the lead,” he said.

“But for whatever reason what you do on the 18th hole in any tournament can make your dinner tastes a certain way because a guy can bogey the last and shoot a 69 and feel worst than another who can birdie the last in a round of 70.

“So it can all be very odd what happens on the last hole.

“But then we are very odd!”

Padraig Harrington admits .. ‘we’re all very odd’.