Harrington makes late bid for Ryder Cup spot

Ireland's Padraig Harrington was today hoping a £5 metal ruler would keep him on the straight and narrow in Galway.

Harrington bought the ruler from a local DIY store to use on the practice green and it seemed to have the desired effect in the West of Ireland Golf Classic.

A first round 69 was capped off by a remarkable escape at the ninth - his final hole - where he found water off the tee but fired a one iron to 20 feet and holed the putt for a par.

"For the first 16 holes I would have been moaning about shooting a 69 but after two good saves in the last two holes I'm quite happy," said the 27-year-old Dubliner.

Harrington is 16th in the Ryder Cup standings and needs a victory here and a good finish in the final qualifying event next week to make the team.

"I couldn't have asked for more and after saving par after that appalling drive I certainly wasn't moaning.

"I didn't drive it very well but up until the last two holes I only missed one green. After my lesson with Bob Torrance on Monday the bad shots aren't coming from my swing but from my head.

"It's not very clever to think 'don't put it in the left bunker, and then put it into the water on the right."'

Harrington, who just missed out on qualification for the Ryder Cup in 1997, found himself three off the pace held by surprise leader Elliot Boult of New Zealand, who fired a six under 66 to establish a new course record.

Danish trio Soren and Anders Hansen (no relation) and Nils Rorbaek were a shot further back on five under with an 11-strong group on four under including Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, English duo Andrew Oldcorn and Gary Emerson, and Ireland's Paul McGinley.

McGinley still has an outside chance of making the Ryder Cup team but has dismissed his own chances after a mid-season slump in form.

The 32-year-old had two top three finishes early in the season, but missed the cut in four of his last six events to lie 26th in the standings.

"That run has definitely cost me," McGinley said after his opening 68. "I have to do something spectacular to get it back.

"In fact it's not even in my mind any more. I just want to play well again."

Costantino Rocca has not yet given up hope of a fourth successive cup appearance although, like Harrington, he needs two high finishes to stand a chance.

The popular Italian had to settle for a two under par 70 from a round that had threatened to be much better, the major damage done when his eight iron tee shot on the fourth went out of bounds to cost him a double bogey.