Harrington leads Transitions with career-best 61

Padraig Harrington has a three-shot lead after the first round of the Transitions Championship on the PGA Tour.

The three-time Major winner broke the course record with a 61 that included 10 birdies and not a single dropped shot.

This opening round will come as sweet relief to the Irishman, who has slipped to 90 in the world after a drop in form in recent years, and missed the first two WGC events of the season as a result.

“It’s been a strange last year, but I’m very comfortable where my game is at,” said Harrington, who hasn’t won on American soil since the 2008 USPGA Championship.

“For a long time now, I play better on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday than I do on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I’m trying to stay patient. I know my game is good. One of the hardest things is to wait with confidence.”

Harrington’s closest challenger is Will Claxton on -7 and there is a group of seven players on -5, including Jim Furyk.

Luke Donald and Justin Rose have made good starts with four-under 67s and Tom Lewis, making his American professional debut, shot a 72.

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