PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Padraig Harrington didn’t have the best score at Innisbrook, just one of the biggest smiles.
He finished his opening round Thursday at the Transitions Championship by holing out a bunker shot for birdie on the 18th hole, then happily shared memories of his first trip to the White House and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with President Barack Obama.
Garrett Willis, who only learned two weeks ago that he received an exemption to his hometown event, made five birdies on the back for a 6-under 65 and a two-shot lead over defending champion Retief Goosen and five others.
Harrington had to settle for a 69 in his first trip to Innisbrook.
It was the day before — a whirlwind trip to Washington for his favorite holiday — that kept him so upbeat. He explored various rooms in the White House, then went to a gala hosted by Obama and Ireland’s prime minister.
The only regret? Not taking the opportunity to greet Obama.
“When it finished off, people obviously were going up to say ‘Hello,’ and I sort of stayed back,” Harrington said. “I missed the opportunity, but it will happen again. And the end of the day, it was just nice to be there. I was close enough, let’s say.”
If the White House was a new experience, so was the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, with a strong reputation that grows each year. Harrington had never played the Transitions Championship, and while he had a practice round earlier in the week, his lack of knowledge showed at times.
On the par-3 17th, which played 224 yards into a cold wind, Harrington figured he could attack with a 5-wood only to realize there was a spine in the back of the green that made for a tough chip and led to a bogey.
That wasn’t a problem for Willis, who knows this course well from living about 40 miles up the highway. His trouble was getting into the tournament. Willis figured that he would be a lock for this event, but the field is stronger than ever — 14 of the top 25 in the world — and he needed a late sponsor exemption to get a tee time.
His round turned after getting into trouble on the 10th, where he drove into the trees and then went over the green. Instead of another bogey, however, he chipped in for birdie, the first of three in a row.
