Open champion Harrington stays in the hunt

TULSA, Oklahoma, Aug 10 (Reuters) Padraig Harrington, still feeling the glow of his British Open triumph, returned to major championship business yesterday, scrambling to a one-under 69 that put him in the hunt at the US PGA.

''Obviously since I've won at the Open, things have moved very quickly,'' the Irishman told reporters about the response to his first major championship win at Carnoustie.

''There was a lot to do at home. Last week there was still things going on. This week there's still things going on.

''The benefit is the fact I've won a major. You feel like you've won one, you can win two, you can move on from that.

''So there's a certain level of confidence. And I also feel that there's a certain level of adrenalin coming on from having won, and a certain high from it.'' Harrington overcame erratic play off the tee by muscling balls out of the Southern Hills rough and on to greens five times in a round including four birdies and three bogeys.

He feels he is striking the ball well and doing a good job of focusing on the job at hand.

''When good things happen to me, I tend to keep my head down, put the blinkers on and keep going forward,'' he said.

Harrington had taken his score to two under par before registering a bogey at the par-four 17th.

''I'm in good position,'' the 35-year-old Dubliner said. ''But it's how I play the next three rounds.'' REUTERS DH DS1035