A day after many predicted Padraig Harrington would struggle and the triple Major Champion contradicts his critics with a U.S. Open first day 71 at Congressional.
Harrington recorded three birdies and just as many bogeys in his third best first day scoring round in 14 U.S. Open’s.
Padraig Harrington speaks to the media and his wife, Caroline listens in.
And the Dubliner’s round could have been at least two shots lower had no two putts, including a par-save from rough back right at his last hole, not stopped in the jaws of the hole.
Harrington began his round in light rain from the 10th tee and managed to walk off with a par before finding threes at the 11th on route to bogey.
He played a 129-yard wedge at the next to just a foot for birdie.
Harrington bogeyed the 18th but then picked off birdies at the third or his 12th hole when he hit an 8-iron from rough to five feet.
A Montgomery County Police Officer stands guard over the Harrington match on day one of the 2011 US Open.
Then at the par five sixth, Harrington went walking after what he thought was an eagle after chipping from off the green.
But the ball stopped right on the edge of the hole for the easiest of easy tap-in birdies.
“It didn’t help having to start out when it was raining but I’d have taken 71 before I went out, for sure,” he said.
“Tthen it always feels bad to bogey instead of taking birdie at the last. So I’d feel better if had done that.
“But I certainly missed a few birdie chances out there, but I also made a few out there as well.
“A 71 is probably a fair reflection, even though I would have been have liked to have been a few shots better.”
Harrington revealed he has yet a new set of irons in the bag this week – Wilson Staff V2s.
“My iron play was pretty good and that’s due to a new set of irons, and they definitely seem to be nice to control,” he said.
“The ball seems to fly very nicely with a bit more spin and that kind of suite a U.S. Open test.
“And that’s the lucky thing about being a pro, as they’re next year’s model.
“I get them six months in advance so they’re the new forged irons coming out next year.”
But the big test now for Harrington will be to back up his first round just as he did on the occasion of his two lowest U.S. Open first round scores.
At Bethpage Park in 2002 Harrington began with a 70 and then posted a day two 68 on route to an eventual share of eighth.
A year later at Olympia Fields he started 69 and 72 to eventually finished in a tie for 10th.
