Pádraig Harrington shines bright on the Algarve as Séamus Power flies flag in Mexico

Pádraig Harrington of Ireland plays his second shot on the 12th hole during Day One of the Portugal Masters. Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Brian Keogh

November 05 2021 02:30 AM

Pádraig Harrington used his Champions Tour “wake-up call” to fire a four-under 67 in the Portugal Masters and move into contention for his 16th European Tour win.

Poor wedge play led to the veteran getting “lapped” in his first two outings on the US seniors circuit, but he tidied it up and made four birdies in a bogey-free effort to share fourth place at the scene of his last win in 2016.

“I hit the ball quite well and was lapped by the field,” the Dubliner said of his first two starts amongst the veterans. “That gave me a bit of a wake-up call that as much as I’ve strengthened my weaknesses over the last number of years, I’ve definitely weakened my strengths. Today was a good day in that sense. I was a lot sharper.”

He ended the day tied fourth, six shots behind Italy’s Nino Bertasio, who made 10 birdies in a career-low, 10-under 61 to lead by four from Spain’s Adri Arnaus.

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Harrington is 68th in the Race to Dubai and looking to make the top 50 who qualify for the DP World Tour Championship in a fortnight. But 97th-ranked Jonathan Caldwell, who was tied 23rd after signing for a two-under 69, admitted he’s taken his eye off the ball since winning in June.

“Obviously, to get my first win was great,” Caldwell said. “I didn’t play particularly great after it. It set me back a little bit. I had my status set for next year, and I probably took the foot of the gas a wee bit in terms of preparation.”

Cormac Sharvin, who needs a big week to haul himself from 166th spot into the top 122 who keep their cards, struggled to a five-over 76.

Meanwhile, Séamus Power made four birdies in a three-under 68 to be the only Irishman inside the projected cut line in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba in Mexico.

The Waterford man was eight shots behind early leader Matthew Wolff, who shot a 10-under 61 to lead by two shots from Aaron Wise.

“It was a bit frustrating there in the front nine,” said Power, who followed a lone birdie at the second before following three birdies in a row from the 13th with a bogey at the 16th. “I just couldn’t get the putts to drop.”

Graeme McDowell posted a 70 as Shane Lowry finished with three successive bogeys for a level-par 71.

At the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca, Michael Hoey (42) shot a level-par 71 to share 31st place – six strokes behind Austrian Lukas Nemecz and Norway’s Espen Kofstad – as he seeks the top-three finish he needs to win one of 20 European Tour cards on Sunday.

Portugal Masters,
Live, Sky Sports Golf, 12.0

WWT Championship at Mayakoba,
Live, Sky Sports Golf, 7.0