Padraig Harrington makes a strong start in Mexico

Padraig Harrington found himself inside the top 30 as the first round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld drew to a close on Thursday night.

With a few late starters still out on the course, Harrington finished the day on three-under par, four shots off clubhouse leaders Harry Hall of England and Germany's Jeremy Paul who sat on seven-under par after openings 64s.

Despite a double bogey blotting his card, Harrington strung together a fine round that contained six birdies in all.

He got off to a nice start with an opening birdie after sticking his approach inside 10 feet and while he would give that shot back after leaking right at the fourth, back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh saw him out in 33.

FULL LEADERBOARD

His back nine started in cruel fashion with that double though, the Dublin three-putting from just over four foot.

The response was good with three birdies over his next five holes before a dropped shot at 17. He made amends at the par-five last though to round off a solid day’s work.