* Harrington fires a 64 to lead by one
* Keeps his faint Ryder Cup hopes alive
* Woods cards a 68, McIlroy a 69
(Updates at end of round)
Aug 23 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods overshadowed playing partner
Rory McIlroy while Padraig Harrington stole the limelight by
taking overall command in Thursday’s opening round of the
Barclays tournament in Farmingdale, New York.
Wielding a red-hot putter, Irishman Harrington covered his
final nine holes in a blistering six-under-par 29 to card a
seven-under 64 in the first of the PGA Tour’s four lucrative
FedExCup playoff events.
In pursuit of his first victory on the U.S. circuit since
the 2008 PGA Championship, three-times major winner Harrington
piled up eight birdies and a lone bogey to finish a stroke in
front of Americans Nick Watney and Brian Harman.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who ended a four-year title drought
on the PGA Tour by winning the rain-delayed Wyndham Championship
on Monday, was among a group of four on 66 while FedExCup points
leader Woods opened with a 68 and McIlroy a 69.
Harrington, who also has one eye this week on earning a late
call-up for the European Ryder Cup team, was delighted with his
putting on the challenging, 7,468-yard Bethpage Black layout.
“I’ve been playing well for quite a while, but this is the
best I’ve putted, the best I’ve struck my putts, the best I’ve
rolled the ball for a long period of time,” the 40-year-old
Irishman told reporters after taking only 26 putts.
Continued…
