Irish golfers exit early in Melbourne

A forgettable day for the Irish contingent in the Accenture world match play championship in Melbourne today saw both Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley make first round exits.

With defending champion Darren Clarke one of the big names who turned the event down Irish interest was short-lived as Harrington went out to American Steve Stricker two and one and Paul McGinley fell by the same margin to Scotland’s Gary Orr.

Harrington, who was seeded tenth and the highest-ranked European in the field, failed to survive the opening round for the second consecutive year. Given that in the absence of so many big names Harrington was being touted as one of the pre-tournament favourites his disappointment at falling to overcome the first hurdle this time round will be all the greater.

Stricker's career has been turbulent of late. His last tournament was in early September and he has not made a single halfway cut since before the British Open last July. He was simply better than Harrington on the day. The Dubliner had no complaints.

"If this was stroke play I'd be feeling quite happy about how I'm playing," he said after playing the 17 holes in two under.

"But it isn't and I'm out. He didn't hit it well off the tee but he did the important part well. He scored better than me."

Harrington came back from losing the first two holes to level by the eighth, but after hitting the better tee shot at the 168-yard ninth he saw Stricker make a 20-footer and then missed his own 14-foot birdie attempt for a half.

The American holed from similar range to go two up at the long 12th and after the 467-yard next was shared in threes Stricker made it three birdies in a row by pitching to four feet and moved three clear.

Harrington took the 15th with a par four but after a carved drive down the 17th Stricker got the par he needed to go through by chipping to four feet.

"I've slipped off the face of the golfing world but I still think I'm a good enough player to beat anybody," said an upbeat Stricker afterwards. "Anybody here anyway - not Tiger!"

Meanwhile Paul McGinley suffered a nightmare start against Orr, losing five of the first six holes.

Three of them were to Orr birdies. The Scot making a strong start. On the long sixth McGinley was about to hit his third shot from the rough when his ball moved an inch.

"That's all you need when you're already four down," he said after calling a penalty shot on himself and losing the hole to a five.

But McGinley did not capitulate. He fought his way back to be only two down with three to go.

Orr was over the green at the 17th but chipped to four feet and holed to take his place in the last 32.