(Reuters) – Tiger Woods overshadowed playing partner Rory McIlroy while Padraig Harrington stole the limelight by taking overall command in yesterday’s opening round of the Barclays tournament in Farmingdale, New York.
Wielding a red-hot putter, Irishman Harrington covered his final nine holes in a blistering six-under-par 29 to card a seven-under 64 in the first of the PGA Tour’s four lucrative FedExCup playoff events.
In pursuit of his first victory on the U.S. circuit since the 2008 PGA Championship, three-times major winner Harrington piled up eight birdies and a lone bogey to finish a stroke in front of Americans Nick Watney and Brian Harman.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who ended a four-year title drought on the PGA Tour by winning the rain-delayed Wyndham Championship on Monday, was among a group of four on 66 while FedExCup points leader Woods opened with a 68 and McIlroy a 69.
Harrington, who also has one eye this week on earning a late call-up for the European Ryder Cup team, was delighted with his putting on the challenging, 7,468-yard Bethpage Black layout.
