Padraig Harrington had just the start he was hoping for at the Smurfit European Open in the K Club in Co Kildare today, birdieing two of his first three holes to be just one behind early pacesetter Robert Karlsson of Sweden.
But by the time he reached the 18th - his ninth - Harrington and playing partners Philip Golding and Thomas Bjorn had fallen a hole behind the group ahead and as a consequence were being timed by European Tour referee Niccolo Nesti.
Two bad times result in a one-stroke penalty, but Nesti's presence made them aware of the problem.
While Harrington, joint runner-up last year after going in the lake on the last, remained two under to the turn and two behind Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty and Swede Fredrik Andersson, Golding appeared to be suffering a reaction to his emotional French Open win at the weekend.
The 40-year-old, never previously higher than sixth in 200 events and holder of a record 16 trips to the qualifying school, opened with two bogeys and then ran up a triple bogey seven on the 424-yard 17th to slump to five over.
Harrington however was in determined mood going into the stg£2million event.
"This is one of my top three events in Europe now besides the majors," hesaid. "For me to win in Ireland would be special - I think Darren (Clarke) isthe only one to do it in recent times.
Clarke captured the title two years ago to become the first Irishman to win onnative soil since John O'Leary at the 1982 Irish Open.
The Dubliner holed from 12 feet at both the 11th and 12th to start with, while over on the front nine Karlsson birdied the second, fourth and fifth.
McNulty, at 49 trying to become the oldest winner in tour history, turned in three under and then birdied the 413-yard second.
He led on his own at that point, but in the group behind Andersson birdied both the second and third to catch him.
Colin Montgomerie, 40 last week, was alongside Harrington on two under. He had birdies at both the par threes on the inward half, the 12th and 14th, but was also disappointed not to pick up another shot at the 18th.
He twice stopped as he prepared to putt, first because of noise from the scoreboard operators, and then because he wanted a television sound man to move.
Missing the 10-foot putt that followed was no surprise - and nor was the angry face he put on.
Clarke and Paul McGinley are among the later starters, as is defending champion Michael Campbell and double Order of Merit winner Retief Goosen.