Harrington rues missed opportunity

Pádraig Harrington was kicking himself for being too tentative after beginning his Open challenge with a level-par 70 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The two-time Open champion, fourth favourite with many bookmakers to add to his three majors this week, will start today’s second round not out of contention but six shots behind overnight leader Adam Scott after a round of four bogeys and four birdies which ended with a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four 18th.

Ordinarily the Dubliner would be satisfied with that as an opening score but he felt the relatively benign conditions yesterday made for more aggressive play on the links course.