• Grand Slam of Golf, Round One

Harrington the man to beat in Bermuda

ESPN staff
October 23, 2012
Padraig Harrington has not won on the PGA or European Tour since 2008 © PA Photos
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Late entrant Padraig Harrington has his hands on the halfway lead in the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

Harrington only entered the tournament - which aims to pit the year's four major winners against each other - as a replacement for Ernie Els, who has an ankle injury.

But he slipped straight into the groove with a five-under round of 66. Masters champion Bubba Watson is two strokes back, while Webb Simpson, the US Open winner, is two-under.

Keegan Bradley, in for the absent US PGA victor Rory McIlroy, props up the field following a 72.

Harrington has not won on the PGA or European Tour since 2008, but he is moving towards another notable success in his decorated career. The Irishman, who finished in the top eight at both The Masters and US Open in 2012, tallied seven birdies in all.

Watson looked to be on a surge when he eagled the par-five seventh, only for three bogeys between holes 10 and 13 to halt his progress.

Simpson struggled with the putter throughout, as did Bradley, who was four-over through six holes before a recovery on the back nine.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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