IT IS not known whether Pádraig Harrington is a fan of Mark Twain, but like the great American author, the Dubliner could safely say that rumours of his demise have been greatly exaggerated as he opened with a superb, six-under-par 66 here yesterday.

Making an unscheduled stop in Miami after following missed cuts in Los Angeles and Pebble Beach, and a first-round exit in the Accenture Matchplay, the Dubliner notched six birdies on an immaculate card to finish the day just a stroke behind the four leaders.

But that wasn’t the only feel-good story for Irish golf on an overcast day in Miami as that golfing version of Huckleberry Finn, Rory McIlroy, continued his American adventures with a four-under 68 that left him tied for 14th and well within striking distance.

Still, there was plenty to write home about.

While all this was going on, Harrington was focusing on getting the ball in the hole – a skill that has proved elusive in recent weeks.

“I’m very happy,” Harrington said. “Obviously I have not had a great run of form so far this year, so it’s nice to shoot a good score. I certainly didn’t hit the driver very well today, but my mind seemed to be in the right place and I hit was irons well and my short game was good. So all of those things add up to 66.”

Explaining his unscheduled stop here, he added; “Not having played enough so far, it would have been foolhardy to go into Bay Hill and Houston and then obviously the Masters without feeling like I’ve been on the golf course and being sharp.

“I’ve definitely got caught up with doing too much practice and been more concerned with swinging the club than scoring. I know it’s not the right attitude going into a major so I need to get out there and play golf and get the ball in the hole.”

Harrington excels on courses with light rough, and the cold Florida winter has played into his hands this week.

While he hit just four of 14 fairways off the tee, the Dubliner missed just four greens and took 26 putts in a performance that will have greatly boosted his confidence.

As Graeme McDowell three-putted the last for a 73 and Darren Clarke paid a heavy price for a front nine of 40 en route to a 74, Harrington raced to the turn in three-under 33 before picking up two more shots at the par five 10th and 12th, where he rolled in a 24-footer for birdie after tangling with the left rough off the tee.

His final birdie of the day came at the 14th, where he hit a short iron to two feet.

But for much of the day it looked as though he would be playing second fiddle to 19-year-old McIlroy once more.

Growing with confidence with each tournament round, the Holywood star began in spectacular fashion alongside Jim Furyk and Adam Scott when he rifled a six-iron into the heart of the par-five first green and rolled in a 34-footer for an eagle three.

Still, there are speed bumps in the path of the teenage hero and while he birdied the fifth, seventh, he threw in a bogey at the sixth, where he was bunkered greenside.

Out in three-under 33, McIlroy birdied the par five 10th by holing a 25-foot putt and picked up another shot at the par-five 12th to get to five under par before, bogeys at the 13th and 14th halted his charge up the leaderboard.

His response showed that he is a player of quality, however: a glorious mid iron to just two feet at the short 15th followed by three closing pars on one of the toughest stretches in golf.