Harrington back from 42-day wilderness

PADRAIG HARRINGTON was pleased with his first round five-under 66 in the Malaysian Open yesterday after a nine-week winter break when he went an unprecedented 42 days without even touching a golf club.

“I’m delighted,” said the Dubliner, who won his final two tournaments of last year, the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan and the Target World Challenge, beating tournament host Tiger Woods by two shots in the latter.

Harrington finished the day at the Mines Resort in Kuala Lumpur four shots behind leaders Arjun Atwal of India and Swede Fredrik Andersson.

“I am surprised considering the way I was hitting it on Monday and Tuesday. I played conservatively all day because I wasn’t that confident in my mental thinking but I took my chances on the par fives and easier par fours when they came.

“After a long break usually I’m a slow starter and I wasn’t putting too much emphasis on today but it was nice to have a good first round and there is the potential to build on it now,” he said.

Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley bogeyed two of his last three holes and had to settle for a 67.

Lee Westwood said that he felt like he had spent five hours in a sauna with his clothes on, but still enjoyed carding a first round 66. Westwood was drenched in sweat after battling the heat and oppressive humidity

Six birdies and just one dropped shot made it all worthwhile, however, as the former European number one showed encouraging signs of ending his long slump. Westwood has turned to coach David Leadbetter in an effort to recapture the form that brought him seven wins worldwide in 2000 and end Colin Montgomerie’s reign on top of the Order of Merit.

The 29-year-old has not won since October that year, but despite missing the cut by one shot in Perth last week, he believes that he can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Westwood was especially delighted that his short game, normally not one of his strengths, was particularly good, chipping in from off the seventh green for one of his six birdies.

Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson enjoyed a welcome return to form with a six under par 65. Dyson won twice in Asia to top the money list in 2000 but has yet to make the breakthrough in Europe.

“I always enjoy coming back to Asia, I have a lot of friends here,” said Dyson. “It’s my first time at the Mines though and it is a fantastic track with a lot of tough holes.

“I haven’t been playing that great and it’s great to get a good start. I’m very happy to get a bit of confidence back.”

Atwal was among the first players out this morning and missed out on a solid gold trophy despite breaking the course record.

Mines Resort founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew put up the 24-carat trophy, worth 44,000 Malaysian ringgits (approximately £7,000), for the first player to better the current record of 63 held by Tiger Woods.

Atwal did precisely that with nine birdies and no dropped shot in his flawless 62, but with players allowed to lift and clean their ball on the fairway due to the soft conditions underfoot, his effort will not count for record purposes.

Atwal is among the players using the new Titleist ProV1X ball championed by Ernie Els, and used the extra distance it provides to good effect to make light work of the demanding Mines layout.

The 29-year-old drove the green on the 293-yard 15th to set up one of his five birdies in a row on the back nine, and had nothing longer than a six iron for his approaches to the par fours.