Padraig Harrington’s mother, Breda confirmed what her son mentioned a few minutes later in that the triple Major winner struggled around and on the greens on the opening day of the Wyndham Championship.

In what is undoubtedly one of Harrington’s most important events of the season he walked from the course near 6.30pm having posted a two over par 72.

It left Harrington, who needs to finish first or second in this week’s $5.3m to avoid losing his 2014/15 Tour card, trailing 11 shots behind Columbian Camilo Villegas.

The American duo Webb Simpson and William McGirt are tied in second place and a stroke behind Villegas with rounds of six under par 64s.

Padraig Harrington struggles around the greens on the first day of the Wyndham Championship. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Harrington’s round was a mix three birdies but also five bogeys.

And there was an adventurous par up the last hole of the Sedgefield Country Club course when Harrington found the adjoining 10th fairway with his drive and then after chipping through the trees and back onto the 18th, he managed to get up-and-down for a marvelous par from 15 feet.

Following Harrington was his wife, Caroline and their two children and Harringon’s proud mum.

“It was nice to hole that putt on 18 but overall I struggled on the greens early on,” said Harrington.

“I didn’t play well after that as it went through to the rest of my game and only because of making a few bogeys with a sand wedge in my hand, so I was always on the back foot after that.

“So I will need to post a low score in the morning as I need to, and I look forward hopefully to doing that.”