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Nightmare start dashes Harrington's hopes

20/10/2006

A disastrous outward nine on day one of the Mallorca Classic has effectively ended any hope Padraig Harrington still harboured of claiming this year's European Order of Merit.

Four bogeys and a triple-bogey seven on the par-four seventh saw him out in 41 and although he stopped the rot on the way home he failed to right the earlier grievous wrongs and closed with a seven-over-par 77.

This start, which leaves him in very real danger of missing the halfway cut, means his attempt to eat into Paul Casey's €218,185 Order lead is now looking highly unlikely even though Casey himself is not playing due to a back complaint.

"I didn't inspire myself with my ball-striking but I'll go out and try tomorrow," the Irishman said. "A change of wind direction from what I practised in put a little bit of doubt in my head and I made a lot of uncommitted swings."

Setting the pace on four-under-par were clubhouse leaders Niclas Fasth of Sweden, South African Andrew McLardy and Ireland's Gary Murphy.

Of this trio, Murphy is playing this week looking to secure his playing card for next season. The top 118 players on the Order of Merit come Sunday evening retain their cards and Murphy currently occupies 118th place.

He admitted after his impressive opening round: "It's horrible out there. You try not to dwell on your situation but it's not to be confused with enjoyable. I probably concentrated a little better today and maybe that's what I've not been doing enough this year."

Robert Karlsson, who is also in with a chance of claiming the Order of Merit, shot an opening-round 71.

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