Harrington well placed with faultless 65

Three of Europe’s Ryder Cup team including defending champion Padraig Harrington made their presence at the Omega Hong Kong Open today.

Three of Europe’s Ryder Cup team – defending champion Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Miguel Angel Jimenez – made their presence felt the moment the Omega Hong Kong Open began today.

The trio all came in with five under par rounds of 65 to be just one behind Australian Adam Groom, who just 16 days ago failed to win a European tour card by one shot but now has a chance to earn a three-year exemption.

Harrington won with an 11 under total last year and was delighted not only with being well ahead of that pace, but also with keeping a bogey off his card.

“It’s no big deal to be leading after the first day, but you want to be there or thereabouts because you can always play yourself out of the tournament on the Thursday,” said the world number six.

“It’s a nice start just to keep the adrenaline and the focus going. The wind was swirling a bit at the end, but I made three of my birdies in the last six holes.”

Harrington pitched to eight and six feet on the fourth and seventh, then struck a four iron to 10 feet for a closing birdie at the 474-yard ninth, probably the toughest hole on the course.

Harrington is the favourite, but there was a case for making that Jimenez, who was joint second when both played in South Korea last week and has won four times in 2004 compared to the Dubliner’s once.

A spectacular three-wood to within 18 inches of the flag on the long 12th and a near hole-in-one at the 149-yard second, his 11th, were the obvious highlight of Jimenez’s day.

The 40-year-old Spaniard’s record in Asia this year is first, sixth, first and second. “I like it here – nice people, nice weather, nice food,” he said.

On Jimenez, Harrington commented: “He’s very comfortable with himself. You look at him and he has self-belief in what he’s doing, but not in a cocky way. It’s what we aspire to and it’s good to see.”

Ian Poulter, the other member of September’s side taking part, had to settle for a level par 70. Nick Faldo was one better than that, while last week’s Volvo China Open champion Stephen Dodd had a curious 68.

Late in the day South African Charl Schwartzel and Indian Harmeet Kahlon joined the Ryder Cup trio on five under with three to play.