Harrington has round of his life

Golf

A typically Irish day at the Smurfit European Open. Sunshine, rainstorms, a gusting wind and clouds the colour of the local black stuff, that proved more threatening than Open champion Tom Lehman or money list rivals Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam. Niclas Fasth admitted to having a "slow summer", while teetotaller Padraig Harrington won a year's supply of whiskey.

Harrington, rolled in a 40-foot putt on the 18th green (his ninth) for an eagle. Anyone with a three at the last earns two cases of Jameson Whiskey. Anyone scoring the rarity of an albatross wins the Jameson 1720 five-man racing yacht, worth pounds 25,000, currently anchored in the lake on the hole. Gary Clark thought he had when his approach shot rolled over the edge of the hole.

Five birdies in addition to the eagle gave Harrington a seven-under 65. Should that remain the new K Club course record, he will also receive the pounds 3,000 Johnnie Walker award. "As the ball was travelling towards the hole," Harrington said of the putt at 18, "a big smile appeared on my caddie's face." John O'Reilly will appreciate the whiskey more than his boss. "He'll be getting his share, I don't drink at all. I may look as though I do, but I don't.''

Just occasionally, he sounded as if he does. "I've never come close to breaking 70 on his course," he said. "Except when I shot 69 in the pro- am yesterday." A year ago, in his first professional event after playing in the winning GB&I Walker Cup team at Royal Porthcawl, Harrington shot a 77. The difference he puts down to being 30-40 yards longer off the tee. "I didn't change my swing to achieve this," he said. "I just changed my timing. And I tried to stop hitting it so hard."

Fasth, who finished a shot behind the Irishman, concentrated his mind against the elements in the knowledge that only two tournaments remain after this for him to secure his tour card for next year. While Harrington is in the running with Raymond Russell and Thomas Bjorn for the rookie award, and Monty and Woosie are battling at the top of the money list, it is a different story down in the lower reaches.

Fasth needs to be in the top-115 on the money list, but is currently 147th, with pounds 28,237, and has not made a cut, in eight attempts, since June.

Between them, Lehman, Woosnam and Montgomerie got little going yesterday. The first two returned 74s, Monty was one better