Harrington and McIlroy in the mix

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON and Rory McIlroy were in the mix before poor light stopped play in the weather- delayed WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami.

But Graeme McDowell was left to rue two late bogeys as he slipped six shots behind early pacesetter Hunter Mahan at the TPC Blue Monster with three holes of his opening round to complete.

Play was delayed two hours and 46 minutes following a midday thunderstorm that brought 52 mph gusts that destroyed two TV towers, a scoreboard at the 18th and an estimated 17 palm trees. But the delay didn’t appear to bother Harrington or McIlroy as they cruised to three under par before the hooter sounded with McDowell slipping back into the pack on one under after bogeys at his 14th and 15th holes.

Mahan had six birdies as he raced to the turn in 30 blows before another birdie at the par-five first gave him the lead on seven under when play was suspended.

The American was two shots clear of Vijay Singh, Nick Watney, Ryo Ishikawa, Matt Kuchar, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and clubhouse leader Charley Hoffman, who shot a five under 67.

Harrington’s short game was at its brilliant best as he birdied the 12th, 13th and 15th and then parred his first four holes on the front nine to share 17th place with five holes of his round to complete.

McIlroy birdied the 13th to turn in 35 and picked up further shots at the second and fifth to get to three under, despite being forced to ice the big toe on his right foot after an accident in the gym on the eve of the event.

He told his 146,000 Twitter followers: “Just dropped a 50lb dumb bell on my big toe! Ouch!! Hope my foot fits into my shoe tomorrow!!”

World No 4 McDowell more than held his own against a struggling Tiger Woods (one under) and an erratic Phil Mickelson (two under), proving he is now a serious contender for the world No 1 berth.

The Ulsterman was in brilliant form on and around the greens, picking up birdies at the 10th and 14th and saving pars at the 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th before following a bogey at the 18th with an rollercoaster start to his back nine. After birdies at the first and fourth, the US Open champion failed to get up and down from sand at the fifth and missed a five footer for par at the sixth to slip back to tied 32nd.

Picture: Graeme McDowell plays out of a bunker on the 11th (AP)