FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)
-8 R Fisher, S Hansen (Den) -7 M Kaymer (Ger) Selected others:-6 D Howell -5 P Harrington, R Karlsson (Swe), R Goosen (SA) -4 L Westwood -2 C Montgomerie
 Ross Fisher finished birdie-birdie-birdie |
England's Ross Fisher and Denmark's Soren Hansen fired eight-under-par 64s to lead after the first round of the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. Fisher, who came close to qualifying for last month's Ryder Cup, and Hansen, who played in Valhalla, were both playing at the Kingsbarns course. Ireland's Padraig Harrington, chasing a second Order of Merit title, finished superbly to lie three off the lead. The pro-am event takes place at Kingsbarns, St Andrews and Carnoustie. Harrington, who leads Europe's money-list by 228,316 euros from England's Lee Westwood, had five birdies over the last six holes to salvage his round. The three-time major winner has complained of fatigue since the Ryder Cup, where he gained just half a point for the second contest in succession.  | 606: DEBATE |
And Harrington, who has won the event three times, failed to make the most of benign early conditions at Kingsbarns and was level par after 12 holes. But his grandstand finish meant he finished with a five-under-par round of 67, level with Ryder Cup team-mate and playing partner Robert Karlsson of Sweden. "When you are leading it you want to win it," said Harrington. "The first question you will be asked when you retire is how many majors you have won, but Order of Merits come a close second." Westwood carded a four-under 68, also at Kingsbarns, to keep his Order of Merit hopes alive.
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