Harrington gets The 2008 Ryder Cup underway
Harrington and partner Robert Karlsson led the European defence of The Ryder Cup as the opening pairing against Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim with both teams receiving rousing support on the first morning.
Harrington, the double Open Champion and US PGA Champion, hit the perfect drive straight down the middle, further intensifying the pressure on the US opener Mickelson but the left hander rose to the challenge and followed Harrington down the middle.
Karlsson, playing first hit a great second shot to eight feet with Kim leaving his wedge approach 18 feet short. When Mickelson failed to hole their birdie chance, Harrington calmly stroked home the birdie putt for a winning birdie to immediately put blue on the board as Europe went one up.
RYDERCUP.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network