NEW YORK — Tiger Woods overshadowed playing partner Rory McIlroy, while Padraig Harrington stole the limelight by taking overall command in Thursday's opening round of the Barclays tournament in Farmingdale, New York. Wielding a red-hot putter, Irishman Harrington covered his final nine holes in a blistering six-under-par 29 to card a seven-under 64 in the first of the PGA Tour's four lucrative FedExCup playoff events. In pursuit of his first victory on the US circuit since the 2008 PGA Championship, three-time major winner Harrington piled up eight birdies and a lone bogey to finish a stroke in front of Americans Nick Watney and Brian Harman. Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who ended a four-year title drought on the PGA Tour by winning the rain-delayed Wyndham Championship on Monday, was among a group of four on 66 while FedExCup points leader Woods opened with a 68 and McIlroy a 69. Harrington, who also has one eye this week on earning a late call-up for the European Ryder Cup team, was delighted with his putting on the challenging, 7,468-yard Bethpage Black layout. “I've been playing well for quite a while, but this is the best I've putted, the best I've struck my putts, the best I've rolled the ball for a long period of time,” the 40-year-old Irishman told reporters after taking only 26 putts. Harrington conceded he had learned a valuable lesson about the scoring possibilities at a venue which has staged two US Opens from his American playing partner Troy Matteson, who eagled the fourth hole. Harrington hopes his sizzling form at Bethpage will help him earn one of two wildcard picks by European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal Monday, though he accepts he is on the outside looking in. Woods, the only triple winner on the 2012 PGA Tour, expressed mixed views about his round after failing to make the most of soft, receptive conditions on a benign morning. “I didn't quite hit the ball as well as I would like,” said the 14-time major winner who was followed by huge crowds as he launched his title bid in the company of world No. 1 McIlroy and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson. Woods, who totaled 28 putts, ended the round level with fellow Americans Johnson and four-time major winner Phil Mickelson, British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa and former world No. 1 Luke Donald of England. Northern Irishman McIlroy was satisfied with his 69, despite losing momentum after the turn. Foster takes lead In Scotland, Mark Foster set about ending a nine-year winless drought in moving 1 stroke clear midway on day two of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. The 38-year-old Englishman shot another 4-under 68 Friday to go 8-under overall in search of his second Tour victory after capturing the 2003 Dunhill Championship in South Africa. Scotland's Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie and Australia's Brett Rumford are the next best clubhouse scores on 7-under. Lawrie shot 69 and Rumford 70. European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will likely have the weekend off to consider his two ‘wildcard' picks after a 69 left him 3-over — the wrong side of the projected cut-off mark. — Agencies
