Padraig Harrington has been inspired by partnering Tiger Woods in the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

So many golfers are overawed when they play alongside the world No1 but Harrington starts the second round today just one shot behind Woods, who tops the leaderboard after a bogeyfree five-under-par 67.

The Dubliner's performance confirmed there was no lasting damage after he lost a final round duel with Woods at the Bridgestone World Championship on Sunday when his triple bogey three holes from home turned a one-shot lead into a decisive three-shot deficit.

The two were so relaxed during the season's final major yesterday they passed the time trudging the fairways with light-hearted banter.

Harrington, the defending champion, said: "Tiger brings the best out of you. If you want to stick with him it makes you go for your shots a little bit more. I'm not as cautious. It's more 'let's play the shots and take the chance of playing really well'."

Woods said: "It's always nice to get off quick, but you cannot win a golf tournament on the first day. Major championships are set up so that they are difficult. They bait you into making mistakes. The whole idea is not to make that many mistakes."

Woods was in such a good mood he refused to get ruffled when big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros managed to reach the green on the 606yard par five 11th hole with only his second shot, just as Woods and Harrington were setting up their putts.

Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood will resume on two under par, with Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald one under.