FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Padraig Harrington took some of the attention away from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy by opening The Barclays with a 7-under 64 at Bethpage Black. And that surely got the attention of Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Harrington has to rely on a captain’s pick to make his eighth straight European team, though Olazabal has said the Irishman would have to do something extraordinary. Winning against one of the strongest fields of the year might be tough to ignore.
Harrington was one shot ahead of Nick Watney and Brian Harman among the early starters.
Woods scrambled to save early pars and dropped only one shot on a calm day for a 68, while McIlroy wasted a good start and had to settle for a 69.
