Pádraig the man in Transitions
The current world number 90 birdied his opening two holes and then his closing three for a new course record on the Copperhead course.
Harrington, who had a hole-in-one during the Pro-Am, recorded just 22 putts in a best round since recording an equal career best of a 62 in the 2009 Portugal Masters.
The Dubliner had 14 one-putts and capped his round in holing a 75-foot putt for birdie at the par three 17th to storm to a three-shot lead on day one of the $5.5m (€4.2m) event.
Harrington’s score is also two strokes better than his three prior PGA Tour low scores of 63 in the States, including the one which helped capture his first PGA Tour title, the 2005 Honda Classic.
“I couldn’t even begin to tell you where I hold course records that stand,” he said.
“The one thing I would have done in my game over the last seven or eight years is I’ve knocked a lot of edges off.
“So when I was a young pro and naïve and innocent, I used to go out there and shoot more course records than now, as a seasoned pro with a lot of fear and damage in my system.
“So I tend to open up not so much as I would as a kid. A lot of the course records I’ve shot I’m sure are gone at this stage. I think the best one I ever shot, I shot 63 in The Vines in Perth in Australia, and it stood for a long time; may even still stand, and I had to be told what I was shooting coming down the 18th. I had no idea. So I don’t get those blissful days anymore.”
While Harrington was setting new standards in the States his former caddy, Dave McNeilly was helping steer Italian teenage sensation, Matteo Manassero to success in the Andalucian Open.
Manassero boosted hopes of qualifying for next month’s Masters with a course-record equalling eight under par 64 around the undulating Aloha course near Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Manassero was as dominating around the undulating course as the 4,000 foot La Concha peaks that stands watch over Marbella and region.
McNeilly has been working with Manassero since last November’s WGC-HSBC Champions event and after having caddied for the likes of Harrington and more recently England’s Chris Wood, the Belfast bagman has already gelled well with the young Italian.
“Matteo’s putting was just superb today and while I’ve seen him hit the ball better, his putting was absolutely fantastic,” said McNeilly.
“This is about my 11th tournament working for Matteo and it always takes a while to get to know somebody’s game.
“But he’s great fun to work for and from an Irish perspective he and I have this going where he doesn’t say ‘ciao’ anymore and now says ‘about you’ or ‘where’s the craic?’
“If I get an email or a text from him he’ll always say ‘about you’ so he’s an absolute joy to caddy for.”
Five players, including Sweden former Ryder Cup star, Niclas Fasth, were tied in second place on five under par.
Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane with rounds of 69 were best of the six Irish with Hoey likening the Spanish greens to Portrush. “The conditions, with the bumps and slopes on the small greens are very similar to the way Royal Portrush will be for the Irish Open in the summer and I like that sort of challenge,” he said.
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