Murphy and Power off to fast starts; Harrington ready for senior debut
John Murphy. Picture Scott Halleran/USGA
Kinsale's John Murphy and West Waterford's Seamus Power made excellent starts in their bids for victory on either side of the pond.
Looking to build on the momentum of last week's tie for ninth in the Alfred Dunhill Links, Cork rookie Murphy (23) produced a late birdie flutter to keep world No 1 Jon Rahm in his sights in the Acciona Open de España in Madrid.
As Power opened with a five-under 66 in the Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas, Murphy made a 25 footer for birdie at the ninth to turn in level par, then birdied three of his last five holes for three-under 68 that left him tied for 40th at the Club de Campo in the Spanish capital.
He was seven shots behind England's Ross McGowan, who fired a course record, 10-under 61 for a one-shot lead over Spain's Sebastian García Rodriguez as Rahm shot 63 to lurk in solo third.
"I didn't do a whole lot wrong," said Murphy, who two-putted the long 14th to dip into the red, then made a 30 footer at the 16th and a 15 footer at the last.
"I knew the scoring was pretty good, so I did a good job of staying patient and just let the birdies fall at the end."
McGowan (39) set the target in the first group of the day and while Rahm bogeyed his ninth, the 18th, after being six-under after eight holes, he picked up three shots coming home for his 63.
"I played good enough to maybe [match McGowan], but you have to play flawless and make the putts, hit the right shots and on a golf course like this that is a little bit more old school, it is a little narrower and targets are smaller, so it is easier to end up out of position," Rahm said. "Overall, very happy with my round."
Jonathan Caldwell was 110th after a 73, while Cormac Sharvin hit just two fairways in a 75 to lie 125th.
Meanwhile, Power bounced back from his missed cut last week by firing seven birdies in a five-under 66 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas
He finished the day tied for 17th, five shots behind playing partner Sung Kang, who signed off with an eagle at the 556-yard ninth to lead by two strokes from compatriot Sungjae Im after a 10-under 61.
Graeme McDowell was 99th after a one-under 70.
On the LPGA Tour, Stephanie Meadow was one-under after 15 holes in the weather-delayed Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey.
She was tied 39th, seven shots behind Korea's Jin Young Ko with Olivia Mehaffey a shot further back in 56th after making three birdies and three bogeys in level par 71.
Leona Maguire was three shots further back after making one birdie and five bogeys in a four-over 75.
Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington makes his Champions Tour debut in the Constellation Furyk & Friends in Jacksonville today.
Set to tee it up with host Furyk and pal Phil Mickelson, he hopes he can remain competitive on the main tour, admitting: "It's up to me to find my feet, whether I think I can go back and forth or whether I'm fully committed to being here."
