Harrington takes first day honours with 66

Padraig Harrington led the way in the German Masters first round on Thursday as Europe's Ryder Cup players warmed up for next week's match against the United States.

Ireland's Harrington, who admitted undergoing several "teeth-gnashing inquests" since missing the cut in the BMW International two weeks ago, bounced back with a six-under-par 66 to earn a one-stroke lead.

Germany's Alex Cejka, overlooked for a Cup wild card by his compatriot Bernhard Langer, lay second, with Briton Paul Casey in a group two shots off the pace.

Harrington has been Langer's biggest worry but the Irishman is hoping he has turned the corner after hard work with his team, swing coach Bob Torrance, wife Caroline, father Paddy, and mental coach Bob Rotella.

Rotella telephoned Harrington, the world No. 8, from America on Wednesday and spent two hours trying to help him over his poor run.

After collecting seven birdies and one bogey, Harrington, who underwent laser eye surgery last Saturday, conceded that his team had got it right.

"My focus was very much on technical stuff and the fact I was swinging great made it hard to accept when I hit a bad shot," he said.

"I was being too hard on myself and today on the course I eased up a bit, when I hit a bad shot I accepted it and didn't worry about it."

Casey is fine-tuning his preparations for Oakland Hills and, as Luke Donald's successful partner in the 1999 Walker Cup, he is expecting to be paired with his countryman and fellow rookie against the Americans next week.

"It would be nice to rekindle that partnership," Casey said. "I think we gel very well and I think we'd play well together."

The rest of Europe's eight players warming up in Cologne provided Langer, who shot a 73, with a mixed bag of form.

Frenchman Thomas Levet shot a 70 to be only four shots off the lead, while Darren Clarke carded a 71 that left him scratching his head.

"I flushed it on the range but didn't take it on the course and it was one of the best 71s I've ever shot," he said.

Casey, Clarke and Colin Montgomerie all threw in double-bogeys but wild card Montgomerie mixed in five birdies on the way to a 73.

Also on the minus side for Europe were a 75 for Miguel Angel Jimenez, who has finished first and second in his last two events, and 76s by Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley.

Former Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Woosnam was disqualified for not finishing his last hole. He had run up one penalty for hitting into a hazard and gave up trying to extricate himself from the pond after his ball rolled into the water again while he took a practice swing.

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