Harrington beams in hot 66
Following wins for Miguel Angel Jimenez and Luke Donald the last two weeks, Harrington began the Linde German Masters with a six under par 66 to lead by one from Alex Cejka.
"Terrific," said captain Bernhard Langer.
On a day when Ian Woosnam was three shots off top spot one minute, then walking off the course and being disqualified the next, Harrington grabbed seven birdies and again looked like Europe's leading player in the world rankings.
After discovering his dominant left eye was not as strong as it could be, Harrington wasted no time taking corrective action.
"I had both eyes done four years ago, but there wasn't enough time for the other one now," he said. "I'll have that done the week after the Ryder Cup.
"None of us professional golfers want average and I'm prepared to take a risk to get past average and would jump at better eyesight."
It was not only the surgeon deserving of praise, though. American sports psychologist Bob Rotella rang the Dubliner late on Wednesday last night and they spent two hours chatting.
Harrington's last three finishes have been 45th, 74th and then a missed cut, with the biggest problem being his focus or rather the lack of it.
He continued: "There have been a few inquests and a lot of gnashing of teeth at home trying to figure out what was wrong and Bob told me not to be so hard on myself.
"I brought his book 'Golf is not a game of perfect' with me this week, but it was easier and more assured when it came from Bob himself.
"I came here as a warm-up for next week, but now next week is going to have to wait. I'm focused on these three rounds to come."
Woosnam, meanwhile, does not have any more to come.
The day was going well for the former world number one Woosnam as he covered the first 16 holes in two under par. But he bogeyed the next and never finished the 469-yard ninth.
His second shot found the lake down the right and in taking a penalty drop the ball twice rolled back in.
Woosnam was allowed at that point to place it on the ground, but it was still on the bank and after a couple of practice swings gravity took over again and back into the water it went.
The Welshman decided to have two swings at the submerged ball, but when both failed to get it back on dry land he told caddie Martin Rowley: "That's it. Let's go in."
Back at his hotel Woosnam said: "I might have got an eight out of it, but I wasn't in the mood to carry on. The bank where I had to take the penalty drop is so closely shaved that the ball's going to roll into the water.
"What are you supposed to do?" Tournament referee Andy McFee said: "He could have gone all the way back over 100 yards but chose to drop on the bank.
"He was a bit unlucky, though, because he was at the steepest part of it."
While Woosnam departed, Langer held the second of his team dinners with the eight playing in the tournament.
They had had fluctuating fortunes.
Paul Casey is only two behind Harrington, but Thomas Levet (70) and Darren Clarke (71) were the only other two to break par and Clarke said he played "unbelievably poorly".
At least, however, he had no problems with the right wrist he had tweaked on the eve of the event.
Colin Montgomerie managed only a 73, but that was two better than Miguel Angel Jimenez and three better than both Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley.
They would have looked awful scores a year ago when Fredrik Jacobson began with a tour record-equalling 60, but Gut Larchenhof has been really toughened up since then.
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