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Some rain in Spain Harrington flies high, Goosen solid in Madrid
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Seeking his first win this year, Ireland's Padraig Harrington shot an 8-under-par 63 in the first round of the $1.26 million Madrid Open on Thursday. That equaled the Club de Campo's course record but will not stand because players were lifting and placing (playing preferred lies) on the sodden fairways.
England's Stephen Gallacher shot 64 to finish a shot off the pace and Carlos Rodiles and Miguel Angel Jimenez, both from Spain, tied for third with Ireland's Des Smyth at 65. South Africa's Retief Goosen placed himself perfectly to clinch the European No. 1 spot when he carded a 66 to tie for sixth. The current U.S. Open champion holds a lead of $680,996 over Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland. Clarke must win his last two tournaments to have a slight chance of taking over the top spot. Despite struggling with a wayward swing, thrown out of rhythm by strong winds in Scotland in last week's Dunhill event, Goosen had five birdies on a bogey-free card. "I'm not feeling positive but I'm forcing myself to think positively," Goosen said. "A 5-under score is as good as I could get given the swing problems." Clarke had a 67, salvaging a good score with eagle and birdie in the last three holes to finish three shots off the pace. Leader Harrington has not won since taking the title here last year but has racked up a dispiriting seven runner-up finishes. Out early Thursday, the thirty-year-old Dubliner ran in a 25-footer to eagle the seventh hole and had eight birdies, picking up shots at both closing holes. "I'm delighted. And particularly pleased to finish with two birdies," Harrington said. "I hit some very good shots and they were rewarded." The Irishman, currently fourth in Europe, hit an 8-iron to two feet at the 17th and flighted a lob-wedge to 12 feet at the 18th. "But I played very aggressively today and you can't keep that up over four days," Harrington said. "I'm just sounding a warning to myself not to hope for too much over the next three days." Denmark's Thomas Bjorn had a 68 to tie 22nd and Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal shot a 69 to tie 35th.
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