Hurting Harrington not happy after 64
Harrington holed a 40-foot chip-in eagle at his fourth hole and then managed six birdies with just one bogey in a seven under par 64 around the rain-softened Horizon Hills course in Johor.
It is Harrington’s lowest round since his 64 on day three of the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland but it will not be recognised among his best scores due to a ‘preferred lie’ rule.
The current World No. 83 ranked Harrington shares second place with Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Australia’s Marcus Fraser, one stroke adrift of Dutchman Joost Luiten.
Harrington has been in regular contact this week with new coach Peter Cowen and despite some wayward driving, that’s not his main concern as he seeks also to end a three-year European Tour winless drought.
“Rather than being focussed where I am with Pete (Cowen), I am more concerned where my head is at the moment,” said Harrington.
“I’ve been on the phone to him a few times this week as I am slightly coming out of a few of my shots this week and kind of glancing them.
“I am hitting the ball sufficiently well enough that they can go off a little bit but it’s more to do with where my head’s at.”
Harrington admitted there has not been one event, including a season best of eighth recently in Scotland, where he’s ended an event completely happy with his effort.
“I was chuffed with how I played at the Dunhill but there hasn’t been a tournament yet this year where I’ve finished the event and I could say I did well or I was better than I played,” he said.
However, Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley had little cause for celebration.
Hoey spent a good 15 minutes in the air-conditioned comfort of the scorer’s building after his round of a two under par 69.
And it was the stifling conditions this year’s double Race to Dubai winner blamed on a rules blunder that cost him a two stroke penalty.
Hoey’s ball had come to rest in casual water on the par four, fifth hole and the 14th of his round but instead of taking a drop and then placing the ball under the lift-clean-and-place rule, the Belfast man, much to the cries of his caddie, just placed the ball.
“I was four under after nine holes but the heat really got to me and I just wasn’t thinking clearly,” he said.
“Overall, I am pretty pleased with the way I am playing.”
McGinley had a horrible day, posting just one birdie but also nine bogeys and a final hole double bogey in an 81.
Yet another thunderstorm late in the day meant half the field of 78 players not completing their first day’s play.
Among those was Gareth Maybin (three under par after 10 holes), Niall Turner (two under after 12 holes), Peter Lawrie (level par through 10 holes) and Damien McGrane (one over after 10 holes).
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