Harrington's short game on the blink

03 Jul 2009 - 00:00:16

Troubled Padraig Harrington will today be struggling to avoidmissing yet another cut with the defence of his Open Championship title due to begin at Turnberry in just 12 days.

The Irishman made a late decision to include this week's FrenchOpen in his warm-up programme in the hope that he could restoreconfidence in his faltering long game over a Le Paris National coursewhere length off the tee is not of prime importance.

Japan prodigy Ishikawa will go to golf's 'sacred place' as Ryo seals Open place To an extent in yesterday's first round at Versailles he achieved his aim, hitting nine out of 14 fairways.

But the make-up of his one-over-par 72, which left him trailing German leader Martin Kaymer by 10 strokes, revealed a new cause for concern that could further reduce his chances of picking up a fourth major on the Ayrshire coast.

Harrington's short game also appears to be on the blink. As he three-putted two of his first three greens to go two over early on, while many were reeling off birdies, his chance of making a cut for the first time in five attempts faded fast. '

The three putts hurt me badly at the start and it took me a long time to get into my rhythm after that,' said Harrington. 'I'm struggling a bit with the pace of the greens.'

It was certainly not a problem that affected Kaymer as he equalled the course record with eight birdies and an eagle in his 62, despite suffering from blisters. Others could not cope mentally with the day's heat and humidity.

On the ninth Ian Poulter blamed a photographer after finding the water twice on his way to a triple bogey and in a heated exchange the Frenchman was seen to shake a fist at the player.