Despite the looming absence of Tiger Woods, the Chevron World Challenge got underway on Thursday at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, and a three under par 69 from Padraig Harrington leaves the Dubliner in third place after first round play.

Though the media focus has been on things off the course this week with Woods,  the world number one golfer, pulling out of his own tournament after sustaining injuries in a car crash early last Friday morning, the 18-man field finally got down to golf, and it is Ian Poulter and Zach Johnson who share the lead on four under par after round one.

Harrington is one behind after shooting a three under par 69 and the other Irishman in the field, Graeme McDowell, is in seventh place after carding a one under par 71.