Birdie blast as Irish sizzle in sun

BIRDIE fest in the Spanish sunshine - that was very much the story at the Club de Golf Sevilla yesterday.

Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley shot ten birdies and an eagle between them for a fourball round of 60 and a share of the World Cup first round lead with surprise packets Austria.

The Jose-Maria Olazabal designed course is almost entirely bereft of rough and was virtually defenceless as the pros revelled in the perfect conditions and on relatively flat and excellent putting surfaces.