Curse of the home boys

If not a witch's curse, it's something darn close. Put an Irish player in an European Tour event on home soil and all kinds of wicked spells descend on their heads. After the first round of the European Open, the mystery continued, and only Padraig Harrington - of the regular tour players - managed to manoeuvre into any sort of challenging position.

"The course is as easy as it is ever going to play," remarked Harrington, having just shot a round of three-under-par 69. "There's no wind. The greens are not firm. And the pins are okay, not that difficult."

Yet, despite the favourable conditions, it proved to be a poor day at the sun-kissed office for many of his compatriots.

Most notably, Paul McGinley, the touring professional for the host club, languished to a 77, Eamonn Darcy, leading Irishman in the Irish Open, crashed to a 79 and Darren Clarke, considered the main home hope prior to the tournament, had a wretched day on the greens in finally signing for a 73.

So, the main back-up to Harrington came in the unlikely form of ex-tour player Jimmy Heggarty, who shot a round of 70, while Philip Walton, Des Smyth and Damien McGrane all came in with level par rounds of 72.

Indeed, it was very much a tale of putters from the Irish. Harrington put a new one - a Wilson 8802 which is along the classic lines - into his bag and, 29 putts later, the Dubliner professed that he was "quite pleased" with the recently acquired blade.

Although he had four birdies in his round - at the 11th, 15th, 17th and second, having started at the 10th - Harrington reserved his fondest memories for what happened at the 16th where his drive plunged into water. After a penalty drop, he smashed a sand wedge to 50 feet and holed the putt for an unlikely par.

"I'm very happy with my score. I found it difficult to club myself in the heat because the ball was going a long way, but I've put myself in contention and that's what I wanted to do," he said.

Clarke also used a new putter for the first - and probably the last - time. "It won't see a links again in my hands," he remarked. "I missed three putts from inside three feet and I can't remember the last time that happened. I just lost confidence completely on the greens."

His misdemeanours arrived at the ninth, 10th and 13th, where all the short putts missed the cup, and a frustrated Clarke conceded that he needs "a low round, or something special" to get back into the tournament which is his last outing before the US PGA at Medinah.

Meanwhile, Heggarty's putter was rescued from the back of Royal Portrush club professional Dai Stevenson's shop on a recent visit. And the 43-year-old used the Ping Anser with some success as he rattled in 12-foot birdie putts at the 12th and 15th in a bogey-free round. The only time the putter let him down was when he missed a three-and-a-half footer for birdie at the seventh - but the Ulsterman intends to keep the club in his bag as he seeks to emulate the feat of 1995 when he was leading home player in the event.