That old hand Darcy shows Irish the way

SUPERSTITIOUS thespians would have approved of Padraig Harrington's approach to his first experience of Wentworth. After decidedly moderate rehearsals, in which he failed to break par earlier in the week, the 24 year old Spanish Open champion shot an admirable 71 in some of the most difficult conditions of a difficult day.

But the Irish challenge, involving 12 competitors, is led by an old hand, Eamonn Darcy, who shot a two under par 70 that included the only eagle of the day at the formidable, 571 yard 17th. Raymond Burns was out of bounds there for a six on the way to 72, which was eminently acceptable, compared with another grim experience for fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke, who had an outward 40 on the way to a crippling 78.

Darcy, twice runner up in this championship at Royal St George's, to Arnold Palmer in 1975, and to Neil Coles a year later, was prepared afterwards to talk about anything other than his golf. His disappointment had to do with a failure to break 70 with an expected birdie at the last.

To do this, it wasn't sufficient simply to hit the green in regulation, as he had done on the 17 previous holes he had to get his third shot close to the pin. With an awkward stance for his second however, the ball came up short of the greenside trap on the right from where he pitched to five feet. The ball slipped past the target, forcing him to settle for a five.

But he was delighted with his play of the 17th. "I had a second shot of 240 yards which I hit with a draw, leaving it 18 feet from the hole," he said with obvious pride. From there, the putt went down for what would prove to be an outstanding achievement by the end of play.

Harrington, a late starter, carded successive birdies at the 186 yard 10th, where he hit a six iron to 20 feet, and at the next, where a 10 footer found the target. He was heading confidently for the finishing stretch, two under par at that stage, when the rain came back, reducing visibility among the towering pines.

"I found it difficult to line up putts, while judging distance also became a problem," he said. Which explained why he was through the green for bogeys at the 13th and 14th. And he also overshot the target at the 16th, though on this occasion he chipped to two feet to save par. In the circumstances, he finished creditably, hitting a three wood second of 220 yards on to the 18th for a simple, two putt birdie.

Brendan McGovern, the club professional at Headfort, used the broom handle putter for the first time in competition in a round of 73. He got off to a splendid start, hitting a three wood second shot of 235 yards to six feet for an improbable birdie at the first. "I'm pleased with my score in the conditions," he said afterwards, with justification.

David Feherty had the same score in his last tournament appearance on this side of the Atlantic before he attempts to qualify for next month's US Open.