US TOUR ST JUDE CLASSIC:PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON showed no sign of any reaction to his recent keyhole surgery on a knee as he fired a bogey-free five-under-par 65 in the first round of the St Jude Classic in Memphis.
That left the Dubliner two shots off early clubhouse leader Lee Westwood, who carded a course record of 63 at TPC Southwind.
American Casey Wittenberg separates the two European golfers after he signed for a 64.
Harrington had keyhole surgery a fortnight ago to remove floating cartilage on his left knee and sat out Wednesday’s Pro-Am event on the advice of his medical staff.
Starting his round at the 10th hole, Harrington eased himself into his day’s work with five straight pars.
His first birdie came at the par-four 15th thanks to a fine putt from 22 feet. He also holed from five feet further out for another at the 18th to turn in 33.
A bunker shot to three feet on the par-five third, his 12th, moved him to three under. His shot of the day came at the par-four sixth where his approach from 160 yards out nestled four feet from the cup for another birdie.
He made it back-to-back gains at the seventh when he holed from just off the green.
“I’m happy, yes. I suppose it’s always there, beware of the injured golfer,” quipped Harrington.
“Expectations aren’t quite as bold when you’re out there. I thought it was nice to play well and did the right things at the right time,” he added.
Harrington pointed to the bonus of an early start to his first round.
“Well, conditions are as good as they can be. It is a tough course. If you’re going to score in the morning time, there’s a bit difference of moisture in the rough.
“You’re not getting the same flyers as you would in the afternoon and it dries out. So you’ve got to get the score in the morning, and I’m not expecting it to be as easy for the rest of the week.”
Harrington reported suffering a bit with his knee during the round but is confident it will hold up for the week.
“It gave me a bit of pain through nine holes and stiffened up on the back nine. But it’s only getting better.”
Rory McIlroy was one of the later starters but failed to set the scoreboard alight, carding 14 straight pars.
