Published Thursday, 15 March 2012
Padraig Harrington of Ireland in action. (© Getty)
He played a dazzling 10-under-par 61, which is also the lowest round of his career, at the competition in Florida on Thursday.
Harrington held an early five-stroke clubhouse lead on his return to action after failing to qualify for last week's World Championship.
The three-time major winner, who is now down to 90 in the world, started with back-to-back birdies at Innisbrook and finished with three in a row and had five more in between.
American Kenny Perry, now 51, was the Irishman's closest challenger.
The former Ryder Cup player stood six under with three to play out on the course.