Harrington: I want my record
Padraig Harrington made a plea to European Tour bosses tonight after an opening 67 in the 33rd and final Benson & Hedges International Open at The Belfry.
“I want my course record recognised,” said the Ryder Cup ace, referring not to the round he had just played but a 64 in the third round three years ago.
Harrington, one behind tour new-boy David Dixon, feels an injustice was done after he was disqualified from the 2000 event when five strokes clear of the field.
The world number 10 has no complaints about being thrown out when it was discovered he had forgotten to sign his first-round scorecard, but saw no reason to expunge his brilliant Saturday performance.
Barry Lane and Adam Scott are listed as the joint record-holders with 65s from last year, but Harrington said: “Course records are nice things to have and I can’t understand why mine is not recognised. It was a competitive round.”
Because of what happened that year, Harrington feels there is something of a sympathy vote in the crowd’s warm response to him whenever he steps onto the first tee of the Brabazon lay-out.
The Ryder Cup win last September helps too, of course, and after bogeying the second he had the fans cheering when he sank a 91-yard pitch to the long third.
Even with four later birdies and not a single bogey, however, it was still not quite enough to dislodge 26-year-old rookie Dixon from top spot.
The Bridgwater player had two eagles, hitting a three-wood to 18 feet on the third and the same club to 15 feet at the 545-yard 15th.
Dixon hit the headlines at the 2001 Open championship at Lytham – and not just for finishing as leading amateur.
Late on the second day his drive on the downwind final hole almost reached the green over 400 yards away, earning him a big-hitter reputation he carries to this day.
It took the former England amateur international two attempts to come through the tour qualifying school, however, and he has yet to have a top 10 finish.
“I’m only new out here and I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far,” he said. “It’s been slow, but I’ve learnt a lot. You’ve got to be patient and it’s not easy – the standard is really good.
“Mentally I feel I’m in the best position I’ve ever been on the golf course. I feel really positive and don’t let things get me down.”
The presence of some members from his home club Enmore Park was a boost in that respect too.
“It sounded like a thousand of them at times, but I think it was only about 10 or 15. They were going mad at the ninth when my second shot nearly went in - it felt like the Ryder Cup.”
