Harrington plays down injury fears after cart accident

Padraig Harrington play to the par-three 11th at TPC River HighlandsPadraig Harrington opened with a one under 69 in the Travelers Championship in Connecticut but played down the need to apply ice to his wrist after an incident on a cart.

The Dubliner who finished on the ninth at TPC-River Highlands, was seen applying ice to his right wrist and consulting with a trainer outside the scoring area according to the Golf Channel.

“I just had a little accident coming in on the cart,” he said. “It was a minor – I don’t know. But I’m fine. I’m not injured.”

The three-time major winner then headed into the clubhouse, followed by the trainer.

Tied for fourth behind Webb Simpson in last week’s US Open, his best performance in a major since his 2008 US PGA victory, Harrington birdied the 12th, first and second to get to three under par.

However, he made a double bogey six at the fourth (three putts) and a bogey at the par-three fifth (bunkered) before a birdie at the par-five sixth helped him finish the day tied for 43rd and five shots adrift of first round leader David Mathis.

Mathis shot a six under 64 to lead by a stroke from Australia’s Nathan Green and American Will Claxton and Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson.