• Wells Fargo Championship, Round One

Garcia & Harrington hunting down Haas

ESPN staff
May 5, 2011
Sergio Garcia went round in three-under © Getty Images
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Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington both played themselves into contention on the first day of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

The European duo are locked at three-under, five strokes behind outright leader Bill Haas. Jonathan Byrd and David Toms are tied for second at six-under.

After floundering throughout 2010, Garcia has put himself back on track this season, never finishing lower than 35th at a tournament - and he continued his resurgence in North Carolina, picking up four birdies. The Spaniard was flawless from tee to green but, as has so often proved his downfall in the past, he toiled on the greens, taking over 30 putts.

"My confidence is definitely there [this season], so I'm more looking forward to playing at tournaments and doing well - now it's a matter of being able to do so," Garcia told Sky Sports.

By contrast, Harrington was immaculate when it came to his finishing - but not so hot with the driver, hitting just 50% of his fairways. He was three-under through ten, before closing with a run of eight successive pars.

Phil Mickelson is also at three-under following a turbulent day, which began with two bogeys in the first six holes, before a flurry of four successive birdies between eight and 11.

Elsewhere, defending champion Rory McIlroy is highly unlikely to defend his title after enduring an error-strewn first day, succumbing to five bogeys in a 75. The Ulsterman struggled with the short stick, requiring 32 putts as he plummeted down the leaderboard.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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