GOLF/TPC Players Championship: Padraig Harrington admitted to a degree of disappointment after a highly promising challenge in yesterday's first round at Sawgrass petered out to a "mere" two-under-par 70, including a bogey five at the last.
The Dubliner had been the outright leader at one stage on four under, but poor chipping cost him shots at eight and nine, while a short birdie putt at the notorious 17th slipped below the hole, before a wayward approach at the 18th led to that closing bogey.
But Paul McGinley would have been delighted to sign for a 70, as dropped shots at the fifth and eighth (his back nine) saw him finish on three-over-par 75.
Harrington got off to a real flyer with birdies at the second, third and fourth.
Another came at the seventh after a delay of several hours for a ferocious storm. But he bogeyed the next two to turn in 34 and needed a four at the 535-yard 11th to get back into a share for the lead.
"I had four chip shots today and they were all abominable, but I'd still have taken 70 at the start. Everybody would here," he said.
Despite Harrington's disappointment, his caddie breathed a sigh of relief that he was there with him.
Dave McNeilly arrived only on the eve of the tournament after leaving his passport in a bank in Ireland - and then was unable to retrieve it straightaway because of the St Patrick's Day Bank Holiday.
Half the field, including Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke and Nick Faldo, were not going to finish before nightfall because of the delay, but some of the other Europeans will return today with repair jobs on their hands.
Lee Westwood and playing partner Bernhard Langer managed only 75s, and Jose Maria Olazabal a one over par 73.
Biggest surprise perhaps was that world number three Ernie Els, three times a winner already this year, slumped to a 76. He has never shone at Sawgrass, though.
Tiger Woods, who is seeking to become the first golfer to defend successfully the Players Championship title, had just teed off when the rain forced the players off the course.
