Dubliner Padriag Harrington shot to the top of the leader board at The Barclays in Farmingdale as he went on the hunt for his first US tour title since winning the 2008 US PGA Championship.
Harrington racked up a superb seven under par 64 to take the lead by the tightest of margins – just 1 stroke and during the day hit eight birdies, six of which were on the last seven holes, as he finished seven under par on the par 71 course.
Another of Ireland’s golfers who has been hitting the headlines, Rory McIlroy, who won the much coveted US PGA Championship recently, securing his second major title at the young age of 23, commented that seeing Harrington at the top of the leader board will give Jose Maria Olazabal, European Ryder Cup Captain something to think about.
Harrington, who cannot by rights qualify for a place on the Ryder Cup team, could on this performance and through a victory on Sunday be a contender for the wild card place and in the frame for selection on Monday.
The 2012 Ryder Cup takes place at the Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois in the US between 25th – 30th September and golfing enthusiasts from all over the world as top pro golfers from Europe taken on America’s pros. A battle that has been fought for many years, Europe has reigned supreme in the last 4 of their 5 meetings.
With so much golf to be watched and enjoyed in the coming months, be inspired and emulate your hero’s whilst here on your golf vacation in Ireland, we have a range of championship courses and fairways for you to test your swing and of course plenty of relaxing clubhouses for you to enjoy a pint of the black stuff after.