Not jealous. At all.
One wonders quite how far down the list of potential invitees organisers of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, panicked by Ernie Els’ sudden withdrawal, had to travel before happening upon the name of Padraig Harrington.
Major-less since his victory at the 2008 PGA Championship, the 41-year-old was a late and perplexing addition to the four-man field in Bermuda this week, but exhibitied few insecurities en route to carding a five-under-par 66 to lead the event after Tuesday’s opening round.
Harrington currently enjoys a two- and three-shot buffer over reigning major champions Bubba Watson (68) and Webb Simpson (69), respectively, while Keegan Bradley, winner of the 2011 PGA Championship, sits in a relatively distant fourth place after carding a level-par 72.
Though easily dismissed as an inconsequential post-season exhibition, the Grand Slam nonetheless affords its current leader the opportunity to end not one, but two unflattering streaks.
Indeed, the Irishman is bidding to both claim his first tournament victory since the 2010 Iskandar-Johor Open and, in doing so, bank his largest paycheque since a second-place finish at the 2009 Bridgestone Invitational.
He was in understandably jovial mood following the round:
“Every day I play, I make an effort to talk to my playing partners and today everyone was up for a chat, so it was better than ever… I play better when the whole group enjoys it so, if the guys have any sense, they shouldn’t talk to me in the second round.”
And who knows, a strong showing tomorrow might just prompt the Dubliner to reconsider the sale of his $2million jet.
Conor Nagle
Always amazing me how much Harrington gets out of his game.
With respect to the Bermuda event, I wish they would play this thing over at the McDonald/Raynor-design Mid Ocean Club. But I think the govt of Bermuda owns Port Royal, hence it is being played at an average seaside course (with a few good views though).
Hi mark, Port Royal is a much harder course than Mid Ocean.
Port Royal is “harder” that Mid Ocean because it is awkward in my opinion. Also, I can’t think of one really great golf hole apart from 16 (which is actually great AND scenic). Mid Ocean is chock full of greats. And, it is still a full blooded CB Macdonald course with all the eccentricities that you never see any more (unless your invited to play National Golf Links of America, Chicago GC, etc).
It is always fantastic to see this kind of layout on TV.
Tucker’s Point is the best in Bermuda. It’s newer with less history than Mid-Ocean, which is a close second. Port Royal has great views and looks about the same as the others do on tv. It’s also centrally located, whereas Tucker’s Point and Mid-Ocean are quite a trek from Hamilton and Southampton.
@Notagirlgolfer – Mid Ocean Club is 11.3km from Hamilton, Port Royal is 14.2km from Hamilton. And, Southampton is hardly the centre of anything in Bermuda.
With respect to Tucker’s Point – almost all reviews place it 3rd in Bermuda – I have only played Mid Ocean and Port Royal, but the criticism of Tucker’s Point is that it is wedged into a poor piece of land despite the redo from its previous incarnation (Castle Harbour I think).