Golf: Harrington leads going into second round

Pádraig Harrington would have equalled Montgomerie’s 12-year-old course record of 63 but for a bogey on the 18th at the Portuguese Open at Quinta do Lago yesterday.

Harrington's only concern was whether his mislaid visors would finally arrive in time to be worn for the rest of the tournament!

Sporting a baseball cap instead of the favoured visor, Harrington revealed he had left them at coach Bob Torrance’s house last week and was paying a considerable sum to have them couriered to the Algarve.

"I could have just paid for a plane ticket for them instead!" said Harrington, but with Wednesday being a public holiday in Portugal, they had yet to arrive.

"It was very difficult when the wind got up in the afternoon as expected and I’m delighted with that score" added the 29-year-old Dubliner, who finished second, fifth and second in consecutive weeks in Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai earlier this season.

"I would have been very pleased with two or three under so I’m particularly happy to be leading the tournament.

"I had no idea about the course record but it was a pity about the last. I hit a beautiful shot out from under the trees, probably the best contact all day, but it just ran too far but I can’t complain in all fairness.

"I had a new driver in the bag with more loft today but it will be getting the sack! I didn’t feel comfortable with it at all into the wind so I do feel a bit fortunate to have shot 64, although a 67 or 68 would have been a comfortable score.

"I holed a lot of good putts, including one from 40 feet for birdie on the 11th, and the four shortest ones I had all day I missed!

"I didn’t strike the ball in any tremendous way at all but it was a good day mentally in that I was fresh and didn’t get disappointed with a couple of mishits early on."

England’s in-form David Lynn, Sweden’s Niclas Fasth, Ireland’s David Higgins and former Ryder Cup player David Gilford shared second place on six under par with a further four players another stroke adrift, including English pair Ian Poulter and David Howell.