McGinley and Harrington beat the wind in Scotland
Paul McGinley. Picture: INPHO
Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley beat the fear factor to surge into contention at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
The former World Cup winners fired three-under 69s in strong crosswinds at Kingsbarns to lie just one stroke behind Australia's Marcus Fraser and England's Matt Wallace in a tie for third.
The Irish veterans found the links conditions to their liking with McGinley (51) impressively carding five birdies in his first competitive round for two months.
"I hit my irons pretty well pretty much all through most of the round, pin-high a lot," said Harrington (47), who won the event in 2002 and 2006. "The wind is obviously difficult. So I really wasn't in trouble very much.
"I missed a tap-in on 16 from less than a foot. It didn't make any of the putts easier after that. Two and three-foot was looking long later on in the round."
After missing the cut in Portugal two weeks ago, Harrington admitted it was "scary" to head back into action after an 11-day break.
"I thought I would never be ready for today, but there you go, a little bit of focus, a little bit of, I suppose, being in competition, it sharpens you a little bit.
"I was really good mentally today when I thought I was going to struggle, so happily surprised."
While he captured The Open at Carnoustie in 2007, he's taking nothing for granted ahead of his second round at the notoriously testing Angus links today.
"I for one always go into Carnoustie with a bit of trepidation," he said. "Just because I've won there, doesn't mean I'm going to breeze around there tomorrow. It certainly gets my attention."
Of the Ryder Cup stars in action at Kingsbarns, Brooks Koepka shot a two-under 70 to match Tyrrell Hatton, who is seeking a hat-trick of wins in the event while Tommy Fleetwood played his last eight holes in four under for a one-under 71.
Shane Lowry made just one birdie in a level par 72 at Kingsbarns where Graeme McDowell dropped seven shots in his first six holes but battled to a five-over 77 as Paul Dunne had two doubles and a triple bogey seven at the 18th in a 78.
Former winner Michael Hoey carded a two-over 74 in the Old Course at St Andrews were Tramore's Robin Dawson failed to make a birdie in a 74.
That didn't affect his Pro-Am partnership with rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll, however, as they posted a six-under 66 lie just three shots off the lead in a tie for 11th with Harrington and JP McManus.
