BBC SPORT | Golf | Goosen edges Harrington

Retief Goosen edged Padraig Harrington by one shot after day one of their two-man shoot-out at the Volvo Masters.

South Africa's Goosen carded a two-over-par 73 to Harrington's 74 as both players struggled with the added pressure of playing with each other in Thursday's first round.

First round leaderboard

-8 A Cabrera (Arg) (63)

-4 P Price (67)

-3 S Dyson (68)
B Davis (68)
F Jacobson (Swe) (68)
S Tinning (Den) 68)
B Dredge (68)

Reigning European number one Goosen led Harrington, second on the Order of Merit last year, by 23,119 euros (�14,440) going into this final event at Valderrama.

He needs to finish no worse than one place behind Harrington, who won the Volvo Masters last year, to retain his title.

Photo Gallery: See first round in pictures

But the pair are well behind first-round leader Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who fired a stunning eight-under 63 which included four straight birdies to finish.

He heads Welsh Ryder Cup hero Phil Price by four shots.

One stroke further adrift is a logjam of players on three-under, including England's former Walker Cup star and 2000 Asian Tour champion Simon Dyson, countryman Brian Davis and Wales' Bradley Dredge.

Harrington v Goosen: Round one as it happened

Harrington got off to a shaky start and ran up a double bogey at the first after being penalised for illegally repairing a pitch mark.

From then on he was fighting to regain his composure and dropped further shots at four and nine, with only a birdie at five to make amends.

The Irishman went out in 38 to Goosen's scrambling 35 but the South African wobbled after the turn, amassing a double bogey on 11 after playing three off the tee.

Retief Goosen
Goosen compiled a double bogey on 11

But Harrington, who dropped to four over at one point, fired birdies at 11 and 13 before a bogey at 14 and double-bogey via the water on the long 17th rocked him again.

He finished with a birdie to Goosen's par and despite a tough day there is still all to play for for both golfers.

Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia finished two under, Colin Montgomerie was one under, Bernhard Langer and Justin Rose fired level-par 71s and Ian Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke signed for 73s.

Of the early starters in Spain, European Tour Rookie of the Year contender Nick Dougherty slumped to a disastrous five-over 76.

The 20-year-old protege of Nick Faldo is 33rd on the money list with winnings of almost �350,00 in his first full season as a professional.

His main rival for the title is Walker Cup team-mate from last year, Graeme McDowell, who carded a 72.

The Ulsterman won the Scandinavian Masters on only his fourth start as a pro in August and is 54th on the Order of Merit.

The award is decided by a panel comprising a representative of the Royal and Ancient, European Tour and Association of Golf Writers.

Previous winners include Tony Jacklin, Sam Torrance, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia.


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