PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON ONCE again demonstrated his enduring links golf proficiency with an opening-round 67 at the Scottish Open, to sit three shots off the early lead.
Harrington, following on from his 63 at Lahinch last Thursday, carded six birdies at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick for a four-under-par round, although he will have been frustrated by a couple of bogeys either side of the turn.
The European Ryder Cup captain currently sits in a tie for 14th after Englishman Andy Sullivan set the early pace with a 64 on Thursday morning, a near-faultless round pockmarked only by a bogey five on the eighth.
Joining Sullivan at the top of the leaderboard on seven-under are South African Thomas Aiken, Jamie Donaldson, Lee Slattery and Kalle Samooja, while Oliver Wilson and Henrik Stenson are among a group a shot behind on six-under-par.
Paul Dunne, having missed the cut at the Irish Open, has enjoyed a better start to his week and signed for a one-under 70.
Graeme McDowell has just got his first round underway and is one-over, while Rory McIlroy [1.40pm] is among the afternoon starters.
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