AKRON, Ohio, (Reuters) – Ireland’s Padraig Harrington  spectacularly rolled in three successive putts from more than  20 feet to grab a two-shot lead in yesterday’s opening round at  the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Competing in his first tournament since the British Open  three weeks ago, the three-times major winner fired a flawless  six-under-par 64 at Firestone Country Club.

Having teed off at the 10th, Harrington did well to save  par at the sixth by rolling in a 21-footer before adding birdie  putts from 26 and 23 feet at the seventh and eighth.

He then parred the ninth to end the day two ahead of  Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, American Scott Verplank and South  African Tim Clark in the elite World Golf Championships (WGC)  event.

Americans Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson and Britain’s Ian  Poulter opened with matching 67s while world number one Tiger  Woods, bidding for a record seventh title at Firestone, carded  a 68.

“I’m very happy,” Harrington, 37, told reporters after  posting his lowest score of the year. “It was nice to shoot a  score that probably was even slightly ahead of how I played.

“I haven’t been doing that too often this year. I had  plenty of birdie chances and it was only at the end where I  holed a couple of putts that really turned a 67 into a 64.

“To make those two birdies coming home, three good putts in  a row, was a big bonus.

“It was the good, solid short game that shot the 64 today,”  added the Irishman, who has worked hard on refining his  downswing over the last eight months.
GOING FORWARD

“I’m very happy with the work that I’ve done. I think  that’s going to make me a better player going forward.”

Harrington has not triumphed on any of the leading tours  since clinching his third major title at the PGA Championship  12 months ago.

Prayad, a six-times winner on the Asian Tour, was delighted  with his opening round after teeing off in the second group of  the day on the par-four 10th hole.

“Conditions were very nice and I was really happy with my  start,” said the 43-year-old, speaking through an interpreter.  “The greens were quite fast but I like them fast.

“When I came here last year, I felt really comfortable with  the course. It’s very similar to the Japanese golf courses that  I played on the Japan Tour.”    Woods, who has piled up 15 WGC titles in 29 starts, was  satisfied with his opening 68.

“You don’t have to go super-low here,” the 33-year-old said  after covering the back nine in two-under 33. “You just kind of plod your way along, make a few birdies  here and there and if you get on a little stretch like I did,  make two in a row, boom, all of a sudden you’re in eighth  place.”