Irish contingent off the pace as putting problems surface

PUTTING woes were the story of the day for the Irish in the opening round of the Deutsche Bank TPC of Europe at St Leon-Rot yesterday.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke admitted their work on the greens was short of the required standard and their rounds of 70 leave them with ground to make up over the next three days.

They are already five strokes off the pace, while it will be tougher for Peter Lawrie and Gary Murphy to make an impression after both shot 71.