Proud Padraig Harrington looked back on the opening day of the American Express Championship and declared: "Today was a great day for Irish golf."

A crowd of 18,700 swarmed over Mount Juliet as Tiger Woods came out on top in his battle with Harrington - grabbing the lead with a course record 65 as the Dubliner took 69.

But the Mount Juliet touring professional was proud of the show his home club has put on for the world's golf elite with the course in immaculate condition on a sunny autumn day.

He said: "Today was a great day for Irish golf. The course is phenomenal, the way it's set up. I can't tell you just how good the greens are and that's the reason for the low scoring."

Over 5,000 fans followed the Woods - Harrington match right round the course and both men were delighted with the atmosphere.

"They were superb and cheered us on every green and every tee," said Harrington. "It's not often that they get the chance to see all these great players up close and I was quite comfortable out there with Tiger.

"This time I was the one worrying about not holing out and everyone runs off to the next tee, where normally he has to deal with that. But they were a really appreciative crowd. They were cheering all our shots and we made 12 birdies between us I think everybody was happy."

Joked Woods: "When he made a birdie they were a little louder."

"The crowd has never seen a field of this quality up close and it's only seeing them in action that you get to know how they really play."

Harrington also revealed that he has told the world number one to call him Paddy because he had a problem pronouncing Padraig.

"Yes I told him to call me Paddy. I tell that to anyone who struggles with Padraig. I have no problem with being called Paddy and everyone in the States calls me that," he said.

Woods loved the galleries because they were so knowledgeable about golf.

"I was telling Paddy that today," said Woods. "They are not only gracious but they understand the game of golf."

Woods explained his point by referring to Harrington's recovery from trouble at the tight fourth hole.

"Paddy had a shot on the fourth hole. He hit his tee shot off to the right. It was a tough shot. The only shot, a shoot shot, would have been to hit the ball to the front left part of the green. And he hit that shot to the front left part of the green and they gave a really loud clap, loud applause."

He added: "They really understood how difficult that shot was and that was the only place you could have put it. So it's great to play in front of the galleries that are knowledgeable and the Irish fans are certainly knowledgeable about the game of golf."

Harrington started in great style, holing from just five feet for birdie at the second before Woods drew level at the fourth.

He narrowly missed chipping in for eagle at the fifth but still made a birdie before Woods picked up a shot at the sixth.

A Woods birdie to a Harrington bogey at the seventh put the American two shots clear before Harrington
Holed from 15 for birdie at the ninth to turn one behind Woods.

Harrington birded the par five 10th to join him on three under par before the Great One moved up a gear.

He holed from 15 feet at the 13th and then birdied the par three 14th to go five under for the day.

A three-putt bogey by Harrington at the 16th widened the gap to three shots and it would get wider still as Woods caught fire.

Both men pitched a putted for birdie at the par five 17th before Woods finished in majestic style, rifling a two iron down the fairway and then holing a slick 25-footer for a birdie three which had even Harrington smiling.

But the 31-year-old Dubliner wasn't unduly unhappy with his performance.

"I had two very poor three putts because they were both uphill. I'm quite pleased but I would have been happier with five under. I probably should have been more aggressive but I'm happy enough."

Asked why he wasn't more aggressive Harrington replied: "I haven't been too high on confidence recently and have been slightly struggling but I'm happy with 69 because I feel I can improve on that. I have an eye on the Ryder Cup and I have been building up to next week and hopefully this week too."

As for the added pressure of going head to head with woods in his own back yard, Harrington dismissed it as nothing to worry about.

"I think I was more aware that I was playing with Tiger than at Bethpage in the US Open. Here there was just a little bit of hype but he is very easy to play with.

"He's got such great manners and he's always polite and courteous. He does the right things all the time and he's quite a relaxed guy on the course."

He added: "I wasn't trying to compete with him or trying to make it a match. There is no point because we are just building up to the Ryder Cup.

"The more you see of Tiger the more some of the mystique is washed away. If I hadn't seen the round I would have assumed that he was hitting a driver and a mid iron into all the par fives but he was only one under for those four holes."

Harrington reckons it would be far easier to take on the Tiger in the Ryder Cup next week than in a strokeplay competition.

"Obviously playing tiger in the Ryder Cup is easier because he's in a no win situation and under a lot of pressure to win."

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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