Harrington, Clarke thrive on early start

An early alarm call did not have any detrimental effect on Ryder Cup team-mates Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood when they resumed the NEC world championship in Akron today.

With thunderstorms expected in mid-afternoon the third round tee-off times were brought forward and, with the 71 players being sent off the first and 10th holes Clarke and Westwood were in the very first group off at 7.20am.

The cup partners, however, both opened with two birdies. Westwood, five over par overnight, made putts of six and nine feet, while Clarke, one better off at halfway, converted chances from nine and five feet.

But Harrington, three over when he set off again at 7.40am, was off to an even better start.

The Dubliner pitched to three feet on the first, chipped to two feet at the par five next and when he made a nine-footer on the third he was up to level par and only four behind Luke Donald and Tiger Woods.

The two leaders were themselves resuming at 9.10am so that the round could hopefully be completed before the storm hit.