Harrington still aiming for the top

GOLF: Padraig Harrington has set himself the target of winning this week's Dunhill Links Championship to enhance his claims on the 2002 European Order Of Merit title.

The Dubliner, who fired an opening round of 66 at Carnoustie yesterday, lies third in the European money list with earnings of €1,426,379.

But he trails European number one Retief Goosen by €837,816 - and this week's first prize amounts to €818,662.

"I'd have to win this week," said Harrington, after his six-under-par round lifted him into a three-way tie for second place behind first-round leader Eduardo Romero of Argentina.

"I had to win at Mount Juliet (in the WGC AmEx Championship two weeks ago) or here to give myself any chance."

The 31-year-old finished 21st at Mount Juliet, but is one of the fancied players in this week's field of 168 after producing seven top-10 finishes this season.

"It's a great situation for me here in Scotland because I don't have to worry about winning the order of merit, I just have to concentrate on winning a tournament," added Harrington.

Harrington, fresh from Europe's triumph in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry on Sunday, said his game had been a little off-key both during and since the Ryder Cup.

"I had a very strange week last week and followed it up with the first nine holes today," he said, after mixing five birdies and a bogey with an eagle-two at the 337-yard third hole.

"I was swinging the club the poorest I'd swung it all year so, if I am going to take any confidence from that, it was the fact that I performed decently in poor form.

"What I can take out of last week and the front nine today was the fact that I played a little bit like I did when I first came out on (European) Tour, which is nice.

"If I can match up the short game I had when I first came out on the Tour to the long game that (coach) Bob (Torrance) has built in my swing, that would cheer me up no end."

Harrington will play today's second round at Kingsbarns.

There were mixed results at the three courses for the other members of Sam Torrance's team taking part in the celebrity pro-am event.

Also at Carnoustie, Dane Thomas Bjorn had a 67, Colin Montgomerie had a two-under 70, but Belfry match-winner Paul McGinley bogeyed the last two for a 73 and Swede Pierre Fulke managed only a 79.

At St Andrews, Welshman Phillip Price, still dining out on his victory over Phil Mickelson, shot 69 to be two behind the pacesetter there, Sweden's Mikael Lundberg, while at Kingbarns Darren Clarke and Niclas Fasth both came in with level-par 72s, six behind Indian Jyoti Randhawa. But Lee Westwood had five bogeys and a double in a 76.

How much the celebrations following the sensational win over the Americans had anything to do with their performances is open to conjecture, of course. But those who want to read something into it ought to know that Harrington is teetotal.

"I'm not sure I can say this and not be politically correct - I'm known as an "Irish Queer" because I prefer women to drink," he joked.

But was that not a bottle of champagne he was seen supping from beside the 18th green at The Belfry?

"I was thirsty. I was dying for a drink," the Dubliner said in his defence. "I didn't like the taste of it, but it was liquid at the time.

"I'm sure I drank the champagne out of the cup at the Walker Cup in 1995 (Tiger Woods was on the losing side then as well) and it was the same sort of thing last week.

"I sprayed all the champagne out of the bottle and there was a little bit in the bottom of the bottle and I was thirsty, so I drank it."

Harrington was still up until about 3.30 on Monday morning.

Partnering racehorse owner and investor JP McManus, Harrington had the bonus of sinking a 112-yard sand wedge for an eagle two at the third and after bogeying the next picked up five birdies.

It will take more than one average round to bring McGinley back down to earth from his high.

"That's golf, isn't it," he said of his 73. "I didn't play that badly. I made a few birdies, but also a few mistakes."

Over at St Andrews Price commented: "I had a lovely start with four birdies in the first seven, but I was a bit sloppy around the back end of the round."

He bogeyed the 15th and 16th, but at least finished with a birdie.

Clarke was not too surprised that he did no better than 72 at Kingsbarns.

"You put everything into the Ryder Cup and when you are mentally tired you are going to make mistakes," said the Ulsterman. "Level par is not a great score, but it is not disastrous."

In the team event Romero and Edinburgh lawyer Neil Crichton, chairman of the Royal and Ancient Club's general committee, lead by a stroke from three others, including Harrington and McManus.