PADRAIG HARRINGTON SHOT five birdies to take the clubhouse lead in Texas as the world’s top golfers begin their final preparations for the Masters.
A closing bogey on the 18th was Harrington’s only blip in a four-under-par round which set the pace on day one of the Valero Texas Open.
The Dubliner leads by one stroke from Jason Gore and England’s Brian Davis who carded opening rounds of three-under 69 on a low-scoring day in San Antonio.
Meanwhile world number two Rory McIlroy is four shots off the pace on level par after his opening round.
McIlroy, who had originally intended to skip this week’s tournament and head straight to Augusta, bounced back from a run of three straight bogeys at the turn to finish on 72.
Offaly’s Shane Lowry is among those players still to tee off. Lowry gets his round underway alongside Brendon Todd and Scott Gardiner at 8.20pm this evening Irish time.
