For immediate release	Thursday July 4, 2019
Harrington lights up Lahinch
Tournament: Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Rolex Series: Second Rolex Series tournament of 2019 Race to Dubai: Tournament 28 of 48 events Venue: Lahinch Golf Club Prize fund: US$7,000,000 Hashtag: #DDFIO #RolexSeries
The image of Padraig Harrington must be credited to Getty Images and used in conjunction with this release only. Day One Report Padraig Harrington delighted the home crowds at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open with his lowest ever round in his home national open, a sizzling 63 in the Lahinch sunshine moving the 2020 Ryder Cup Captain one shot clear. It was a spectacular start to the second Rolex Series event of 2019, with Shane Lowry ramping up the Irish atmosphere early in the day by recovering from an early bogey to move right into contention with a four under 66. A pair of former World Number Ones in Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood, as well as Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter, all joined Lowry on four under while reigning Italian Open champion Thorbjørn Olesen was one of seven players in a share of third on five under. But the day belonged to three-time Major winner and former winner of this event Harrington, as a run of five birdies in six holes around the turn propelled him to a seven under round and a one-stroke advantage over South Africa’s Zander Lombard, who birdied the final three holes late in the day for a six under 64. Player Quotes Padraig Harrington: “I had neutral expectations. At least that's what I was going for. I've been playing all year trying to find my game. I've been struggling coming back after my wrist injury. You know, this week, I just decided I'd go and play and try and get stock on my game. That's kind of been the feedback I've been getting from my team around me. Let's go out and play and see where we're at. “I didn't expect 63 out of it. I was expecting a few weeks to get my head in the game, and we could then get our bearings, but you know, it just goes to show, when your head is in the right place, especially on a links golf course because you can work your way around the links. I did a really good job of it today. “Out there today, I was in a good place, my head was in a good place and good things were happening. I hit lots of nice shots. I know I don't have to play as well as that for the next three days. It would be nice if I did, but we'll just go out there and try and do more of the same. “Whenever I step on a links golf course, I am going to be good value, and going forward, only a fool would discount me on a links course.” Zander Lombard: “I think it was pretty solid. I managed to make a few good up-and-downs to keep the momentum on the right side. That's so important in links golf, just to keep going and fix your bad shots. For me, it was definitely two good up-and-downs on four and five to just set the theme for the round. I was just solid all the way in. “I really did enjoy the quirky holes. I think it's not too ridiculous, but it's to a point where it makes you think. It's something we don't play every day, so something different. It's always fun and new is good in golf, especially.” Thorbjørn Olesen: “My putting was really good today. I got in trouble there a couple of times and holed two really, really good par saves. That was key. And then coming in, I hit a few good shots and holed the putts. “I've always loved coming to Ireland. I played well here a few times, but I think links golf, I just embrace it and love it, and that helps. Sometimes it can be pretty tricky. It's always been a type of golf that I really, really enjoy.” Scores: Par 70 63 P Harrington (Irl) , 64 Z Lombard (SAf) , 65 T Olesen (Den) , W Ormsby (Aus) , M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) , E Pepperell (Eng) , L Slattery (Eng) , C Paisley (Eng) , H Park (Kor) , 66 L Westwood (Eng) , I Poulter (Eng) , A Ancer (Mex) , O Wilson (Eng) , C Sharvin (Nir) , M Kaymer (Ger) , R Macintyre (Sco) , S Lowry (Irl) , G Green (Malaysia) 67 O Fisher (Eng) , J Kruyswijk (RSA) , S Soderberg (Swe) , R Rock (Eng) , P Waring (Eng) , A Karlsson (Swe) , M Kinhult (Swe) , G Bhullar (Ind) , J Lagergren (Swe) , B Stone (RSA) , J Rahm (SPN), T Fleetwood (Eng), R Knox (Sco)  , 68 H Li (Chn) , T Lewis (Eng) , R Dawson (Irl) , A Romero (Arg) , E Molinari (Ita) , N Lemke (Swe) , S Brazel (Aus) , L Gagli (Ita) , L Johnston (Sco) , A Arnaus (Esp) , H Porteous (RSA) , A Cañizares (Esp) , D Law (Sco) , S Park (SLr) , S Brown (Eng) , M Wallace (Eng) , R Cabrera Bello (Esp) , D Willett (Eng) , P Figueiredo (Por) , A Sullivan (Eng) , R Karlsson (Swe) , G Migliozzi (Ita)  , 69 R Langasque (Fra) , D Horsey (Eng) , B Wiesberger (Aut) , J Hansen (Den) , G Fdez-Castaño (Esp) , A Otaegui (Esp) , R Ramsay (Sco) , P Larrazábal (Esp) , J Campillo (Esp) , S Manley (Wal) , N Colsaerts (Bel) , M Kawamura (Jpn) , D Howell (Eng) , M Southgate (Eng) , 70 F Zanotti (Par) , J Luiten (Ned) , S Power (Irl) , B Casey (Irl) , M Schmitt (Ger) , P McBride (Irl) , D Burmester (RSA) , A Pavan (Ita) , J Singh Brar (Eng) , V Perez (Fra) , V Dubuisson (Fra) , S Kjeldsen (Den) , E Van Rooyen (RSA) , L Herbert (Aus) , T Jaidee (Tha) , J Walters (RSA) , G Coetzee (RSA) , C Wood (Eng) , R Paratore (Ita) , D Drysdale (Sco) , N Bertasio (Ita) , T Detry (Bel)  , 71 R Gouveia (Por) , B Evans (Eng) , J Van Zyl (SAf , A Quiros (Esp) , R Fisher (Eng) , C O'Rourke (Irl) , G Forrest (Sco) , J Dantorp (Swe) , C Sordet (Fra) , R McEvoy (Eng) , A Rai (Eng) , P Dunne (Irl) , L Oosthuizen (RSA) , R Wattel (Fra) , J Morrison (Eng) , M McGeady (Irl) , A Johnston (Eng) , J Donaldson (Wal) , M Schwab (Aut) , T Bjørn (Den) , D Clarke (Nir) , S Gallacher (Sco) , T Aiken (RSA) , B Hebert (Fra)  , 72 K Koivu (Fin) , S Chawrasia (Ind) , G McDowell (Nir) , L De Jager (RSA) , T Pulkkanen (Fin) , J Harding (RSA) , G Moynihan (Irl) , L Bjerregaard (Den) , A Björk (Swe) , E De La Riva (Spn) , J Winther (Den) , M Kieffer (Ger) , S Horsfield (Eng) , R Jacquelin (Fra) , R Sterne (RSA) , B Dredge (Wal) , S Sharma (Ind) , J Suri (USA)  , 73 T Hatton (Eng) , A Levy (Fra) , S Jamieson (Sco) , J McLeod (Aus) , A Wu (Chn) , H Tanihara (Jpn) , S Hend (Aus) , M Pavon (Fra) , R Fox (Nzl) , N Elvira (Esp) , J Wang (SKor) , K Kitayama (USA) , D Fichardt (RSA) , J Smith (Eng) , T Pieters (Bel)  , 74 K Reitan (Nor) , C Bezuidenhout (RSA) , Y Miyazato (Jpn) , S Crocker (USA) , 75 D Lipsky (USA) , A Chesters (Eng) , K Samooja (Fin) , P Edberg (Swe)  , 76 J Scrivener (Australia) , 78 T Immelman (RSA) ,