Padraig Harrington was pleased with himself after recording a two-under-par 70 in yesterday's opening round of the Sarazen World Open in Atlanta, Georgia. Harrington, competing in the unique co-sanctioned European and US Tour tournament for the third time, played with both wrists bandaged to be lying just four shots off the lead in the $2 million event at Chateau Elan.

Bob Tway, the former US PGA champ and winless in America since clinching the MCI Classic more than three years ago, moved into the lead late in the day with a six-under-par 66. Fellow American Ed Fryatt was in second place at five under.

Bernhard Langer, who finished sixth behind Darren Clarke in Spain last Sunday, was tied in third place with New Zealand's Greg Turner at four under par.

Andrew Coltart, who finished runner-up to Clarke last Sunday, was at three under after a round that contained five birdies and would have had a 67 but for a double-bogey six at the second, where he drove into trouble, miscued his recovery and fluffed a three-foot putt.

Harrington said he felt very comfortable in the crisp conditions and was experiencing no discomfort with his wrists. "It was pretty cold when we teed off in the first group this morning but it was nice when we got going into the round," he said. "My wrists are OK and the bandages are more for a precautionary measure than anything else."

Harrington, the recent winner of the Irish PGA, was grouped with David Carter, the Irish Open champion, and Canadian Open winner Billy Andrade and, despite beginning with a bogey, the Dubliner was soon among the red numbers.

He grabbed his first birdie at the third and then had further birdies at the seventh and ninth before dropping a second stroke at the 10th. Harrington claimed a fourth birdie at the 14th and moved into the lead, albeit momentarily, after holing a ten foot putt for birdie at the 16th.

He dropped a further shot, however, when he failed to get up and down in regulation from the semi-rough at the 17th. But he finished off in good form, sinking a testing five foot par putt at the last.

Langer's round of 68 was especially surprising as he did not arrive in Atlanta until Wednesday evening and was playing the course without the benefit of a practice round.

"There weren't that many blind shots out there but what did help is that the yardage books we have now are really good," said Langer.

Turner, who also travelled from Spain, continued to justify his call-up for the International Team to contest next month's President's Cup in Melbourne. The popular New Zealander capped off the European season with a number of top three finishes.

Paul McGinley, also competing in the event for the third time, parred the opening seven holes before dropping a shot at the par four eighth.

McGinley claimed his only birdies of the round at the ninth and 11th prior to dropping further shots at the 14th and 15th to finish at one over par and back in a share of 33rd place.

Richard Coughlan is involved in another battle for his golfing survival, this time to escape the US Tour Pre-Qualifying II school which is currently taking place at the Grenelefe golf and tennis resort in Florida.

The 24-year-old Irishman - who lost his tour card on the toughest circuit of all when finishing in 151st place in his rookie season, an agonising spot away from securing an automatic ticket to next month's final qualifying - struggled to a second round 76 for a midway total of four over par 148 and in a tie for 51st place.

Coughlan is some 17 shots behind pace-setter Mike Grob, who added a second round 66 to his opening 65. With no cut, Coughlan at least survived for the final 36-holes of the qualifying but, after playing 31 tournaments in his debut season including 17 of the last 19, he needs to dig deep into his reserves if he is to make the final qualifying. His fellow-Irishman Keith Nolan has already booked his place in the final qualifying, safely negotiating the PQI school last month.