Little-known Groom takes early lead but Ryder Cup stars are hot on his heels
Padraig Harrington dared his rivals to 'dance' with him yesterday, as he set the early pace at the Omega Hong Kong Open. And fellow-Ryder Cup-winning stars David Howell and Miguel Angel Jimenez took up the gauntlet thrown down by the defending champion as all three shared the morning clubhouse lead after shooting five-under-par 65s.
But little-known Australian Adam Groom then gate-crashed the party of the big guns late in the day when he went one better with a six-under-par 64 to hold a slender one-shot lead over the Ryder Cup aces at the end of the first round.
'Dance with me,' Harrington had asked on the eve of the tournament. And the ever-willing Howell also accepted that invitation at the IFC Mall in Central, where officials had honoured the likeable Dubliner by having an Irish-themed Pro-Am party.
Harrington had promised after he won last year, that he would do an Irish jig when he returned this time. He kept his promise by going on stage and performing an Irish 'Riverdance' much to the delight - although some might say embarrassment - of the crowd that included Nick Faldo, who turned down the invitation to shake his booty.
'It was the first time that I've had a party in my honour as a defending champion,' said the world number six. 'It gives me an incentive to try and win again.'