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The 50-year-old Irishman is level with Tim Herron after they
each shot 5-under-par 67 on Friday at Grand Bear Golf Club in
Biloxi, Miss.
Harrington, who has never finished better than a tie for 18th on
the over-50 circuit, is playing the Mississippi event as a
warmup for his appearance in the Masters next week. He won the
Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship in
2008.
"I like the golf course, this course suits me," he said. "Some
of the (Champions) golf courses certainly I've gone and said,
well, kind of tough for me, but this one I've come out and said
this really does (work for me). ... I've got quite an advantage
off the tee in places, so I was confident going out there."
Harrington recorded an eagle on the par-5 second hole, and he
finished with four birdies and one bogey.
"I think there's better in me, maybe not scoring-wise, but I
think I can play a little better," he said. "But even then I'm
not going to put myself under too much pressure, too much stress
for that. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing."
Herron, 52, also is chasing his first Champions victory, with
his best result a tie for second at the Boeing Classic last
year. He produced five birdies in Friday's bogey-free round.
"Started making some putts," Herron said. "I actually in the
pro-am struggled a little bit (Thursday) with the speed and the
grain and stuff. Worked a little bit (Thursday) afternoon after
the pro-am and then I ... was just trying to roll the ball and
hit the right speed, and my speed got pretty good today."
Canada's Stephen Ames and Australia's David McKenzie are tied
for third at 68.
Paul Goydos, Brandt Jobe, David Branshaw, Rob Labritz, South
Africa's Retief Goosen and England's Paul Broadhurst share fifth
place at 69.
--Field Level Media
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