Harrington captured the Open and USPGA titles in 2008

Padraig Harrington birdied three of the last five holes to share the lead after the opening round of the 36-hole PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

The Irishman, named PGA Player of the Year on Tuesday, shot a 68 and was two under with American Jim Furyk.

Retief Goosen hit a 70 but fellow South African and Masters champion Trevor Immelman was eight adrift after a 76.

The event has a �775,000 prize fund and is for the year's major winners but is missing the injured Tiger Woods.

Furyk and Goosen got their chance for the �350,000 first prize because of US Open champion Woods's injury and the fact that Harrington lifted both the Open and USPGA titles.

World number four Harrington became only the second European to win the prestigious annual PGA award after England's Nick Faldo won it in 1990.

The award is based on a mathematical formula that takes in tournament wins, money won and scoring average and has been running since 1948.

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The Ryder Cup star, who has won three of the last six majors, captured his second Open at Royal Birkdale this year and added the PGA Championship in August.

That success secured his place in the Grand Slam tournament for the second successive year.

Harrington, who was runner-up in 2007, got his challenge off to a good early start with a birdie at the 2nd hole before a double bogey at the 8th saw him slip back to one over.

But birdies at the 14th, 16th and the long 18th saw him register a two under par 68.

"I started out playing well and finished off playing well," he said.

"Middle of the round I didn't play so well but I putted very well. It was slipping away from me in the middle of the round and I holed a couple very important par putts."

Furyk had an eagle in his round and closed with a birdie but Goosen struggled at the 17th and 18th and Immelman had a wretched back nine of 41 that included double bogeys at the 11th and 16th.

But even if Immelman finishes last on Wednesday he will still collect �120,000 - the prize on offer for the player who comes fourth.