It’s Going to Be Tough to Pass This Harrington

His second cousin is Detroit Lion quarterback Joey Harrington, a fact that Padraig Harrington of Dublin, Ireland, is quick to point out.

“Back in Ireland, the Irish say everybody is related to everybody anyway,” Harrington said.

“Terrible. I’m not even the top sportsman in the family.”

Maybe, but Harrington was clearly the top golfer on the course Saturday at Sherwood Country Club, where he had three eagles, fired a course-record, nine-under-par 63 and took a six-shot lead over Tiger Woods after three rounds of the $3.8-million Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks.

Harrington’s total of rounds of 65-69-63 is 19 under and he played the five par-fives in eight under -- three eagles and two birdies. Harrington has five eagles in three rounds and he is a total of 19 under on the par-fives.

“To be honest, this is a great golf course to shoot low scores, with all the par fives out there,” he said. “You can play aggressive.”

At the fifth, he holed out from 70 yards with a lob wedge for his second eagle of the day.

Harrington said he had a difficult time believing his good fortune.

“I’m the guy who believes everybody else chips in and makes eagles, not me,” he said.

Woods shot a two-under 70 and said he was feeling under the weather. His 203 total is one shot better than Bernhard Langer, who had a 65.

Langer said that despite Harrington’s lead, it’s not safe.

“Many of us have the length to reach these par-fives,” he said. “If Padraig is off his game a little, he can easily go in the water. There is a lot of trouble if you don’t hit it straight or precise.

“There have been low rounds here, and if someone gets it going and his lead goes down, it is going to be harder.”

Woods said a good night’s sleep will make him feel better, but so will playing better today.

“I just need to play a good, solid front nine and hopefully narrow the gap so I have a realistic chance on the back nine,” Woods said. “If I can realistically narrow that gap with the three par-fives on the back, anything can happen.”