FRISCO, Texas — Padraig Harrington didn’t intend for the PGA Championship to be an adjustment to the first edition a week later.
It could turn out this way.
Harrington shot an 8-under 64 Thursday in the first competitive round at the PGA of America’s new headquarters in Texas to lead two shots at the Senior PGA Championship.
The 51-year-old Irishman finished 7th in Oak Hill with an 8-over-43 in the lead 9th Saturday. Alternatively, a nine putter would have meant a top-20 finish, but Harrington didn’t see it that way.
“I was at least a week short on getting ready,” Harrington said. “I felt like I got in last week, but I just wasn’t in. I need to do better when I’m away in the leagues. So last week has definitely helped me get to where I am today, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Japanese Katsumasa Miyamoto scored 66 goals and the Brazilian Adelson da Silva scored 67 in the first appearance for both of them in the professional league. Philip Price also shot a 67 at the PGA course Frisco’s Fields Ranch East, about 35 miles north of Dallas.
Stewart Sink was in the big pack again in his first PGA Tour Champions tournament four days after turning 50. Sinc was joined by Miguel Angel Jimenez, Robert Carlson, Thomas Bjorn, Alex Seca, Charlie Way and Richard Green with 68 seconds to go.
Steve Stricker, who won his first major PGA Tour Champions tournament of the season two weeks ago with his second consecutive zonals title, and defending champion Stephen Alker shot a 70.
Justin Leonard, who was chasing his first title at a tournament not far from where the 50-year-old grew up in Dallas, shot 71.
Harrington made a long birdie putt on the 4-second hole and worked his way up for another birdie at the 10th. He hit his approach to about 2 feet on the par 4th and 16th and rose up and down the edge behind the green for birdie on the par 5 18th.
Thrilled at owning a 69, playing partner Rocco Medit said Harrington had “unpacked” a track that was slated to host the PGA Championship in 2027 and 2034, and possibly the Ryder Cup sometime in the late 2000s.
Harrington appreciated how Mediate behaved during the tour, the same he did with the reporters afterwards. (“So come on man the 64,” Mediati said as he finished in the player interview tent with Harrington watching to the side.)
“In some ways, the reason it was an easy 64 is because when you’re playing with someone like Rocco, there’s always a little chat and there’s always a little fun, so you’re totally at ease,” said Harrington. “There was a lot of conversation. And you end up shooting a 64 and you go, ‘Oh, what, you know, you almost forgot your score.'” “
Harrington won four times on his Champions debut last year, including the US Open Grand Slam and the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup. He has four top 10s in five games this season.
Starting on the back nine, Miyamoto opened with a 32 that includes a bogey before getting two birdies on the back nine.
“I started with a jumper, jumper, jumper, a very nice rhythm,” said Miyamoto. “The first tee is very tense, but make a birdie, so you kind of relax. This course is really tough. The rough is tough.”
There were two aces among the first finishers. Dave McNabb scored on the 161-yard eighth hole on his way to 78 with Penn Pro.
Corey Pavin had one at No. 4’s 183 yards when his putt ricocheted off the leading edge of the green and rolled about 40 feet into the cup. The 1995 US Open champion shot 71.
Cink shot the par-5 first, his tenth hole of the day, with a second putt that settled inside five feet. His round included five birds and three bogeys.
The 2009 British Open champion said he keeps in touch with his contemporaries who have already moved on to the Champions Circuit, but rarely sees them. So far.
“I can see why the guys really enjoy playing in the PGA Tour Champions. It’s fun,” said Cink. “And after I’ve been grinding for so long—it’s great work here too, guys play great. But it’s just here, it’s like grinding with a smile.”