Golf Events / Editor / 16 February 2007 /

Padraig Harrington was pleased with his putting but remains cautious about his chances at the Nissan Open in California

Last year's European Order of Merit winner is making his first appearance at the event and fired ten birdies to put him in contention for a course record 61, but suffered two bogeys to finish with an eight-under-par round of 63.

It was still the Irishman's lowest score on the PGA Tour and he needed just 26 putts to complete an excellent round, three clear of the American trio of Phil Mickelson, Pat Perez and Briny Baird.

Sergio Garcia and David Howell lie a further shot off the pace, alongside Jim Furyk, Kevin Stadler and Cameron Beckman, after rounds of 67.

"I'm exceptionally pleased shooting 63," Harrington said. "Obviously some day it will catch up on me, the fact I don't know the golf course. Today it didn't and whenever I missed a shot it seemed to be okay."

Speaking of his success on the greens, Harrington added: "I did a little work on Tuesday. That definitely helped me out. I putted very nicely. Obviously you're not going to make 10 birdies unless you hole a few putts."

Having been matched pre-tournament at 42, Harrington has now been backed into 5.2, although he remains behind Mickelson, who won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week, at 5 in the betting.

World number two Furyk is next best at 9.2, ahead of Vijay Singh, who carded an opening 68, at 16.

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