Harrington third as Poulter takes early lead
Ian Poulter took a share of the lead at the Chevron World Challenge yet still cut a forlorn figure in the California sunshine.
A double bogey at the last hole of his opening round at Sherwood Country Club left the Englishman tied for first with Zach Johnson in the absence of event host and four-time winner Tiger Woods near Los Angeles.
With the world number one staying away from his own tournament, which annually benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, following his car crash and subsequent revelations about his private life, ticket holders at Sherwood were offered refunds.
Those who chose to attend watched Poulter lead the 18-man field for most of his round, only to miss the fairway off the 18th tee on the way to a double bogey which left him with a four-under 68, tied with American former Masters champion Johnson.
Three-putts on the par-five holes at the second and fifth left Poulter frustrated as his finish.
He said: "It's four under par. I'm disappointed. I'm leading, but I should have been way clear.
"I'm hitting some very, very good iron shots. I'm driving the ball in play.
"But it was a poor three-wood off the last which got me in a bit of trouble, didn't really leave me much of a second shot.
"It's encouraging. I'm hitting my irons so well, and just got a little bit unlucky on the par-fives today. I'm playing them one over par, really just isn't that good."
Ireland's Padraig Harrington, the tournament winner seven years ago, was set to begin the second round in third place following a 69 with Jim Furyk, US PGA winner YE Yang and Open champion Stewart Cink a shot behind having each carded 70s.
Harrington said: "There are plenty of good guys here and plenty of winners here as well so it's nice to have some sort of track record on the course.
"I feel good about my chances going forward."
Newly-crowned Race to Dubai winner Lee Westwood, the world number four, briefly shared the lead with Poulter at five-under before falling away on the back nine to one-under having posted an opening 71, including a double bogey at the last.
Westwood said: "I played pretty well around the front nine, it's just a shame I didn't finish it off.
"I left a lot of good shots out there and if you get bad shots out there it's going to penalise you.
"So I got what I deserved in the end with a double bogey at the last."
Westwood will start the second round alongside Americans Anthony Kim, Sean O'Hair and Steve Stricker, the world number three, and also Graeme McDowell, Woods' last-minute replacement in the field.
The Irishman, handed a late chance to jump back into the world's top 50 from his current ranking of 55, made a slow start but sparked into life with a long birdie putt at the par-three 15th.
