Irish eyes are smiling as Harrington ties for lead
No fewer than five players, including Pádraig Harrington, are tied for the lead on six under par at the halfway stage. They are a single stroke ahead of three more players, including the remarkable 49-year-old Des Smyth. No fewer than 25 are separated by three shots and eight cover the entire field. It’s not outside the bounds of reality to suggest than any of the 83 survivors could walk off with the old claret jug tomorrow evening. For now, though, it’s the quintet of Pádraig Harrington (67 yesterday), 1986 US PGA champion Bob Tway (66), the so-called “smiling assassin” from Japan, Shigeki Maruyama (68), South African Ernie Els (66) and the American with the awful taste in Hawaiian shirts, Duffy Waldorf (69), in pole position.
And you have to believe that if Ireland’s passionate desire for a first Open triumph since Fred Daly back in 1947 is to be ever satisfied, then this must be the year. Harrington is the most favourably placed of our three strong contingent for now (disappointingly, Paul McGinley missed the cut by two) but the veteran Smyth is so happy in himself and playing so well that he shouldn’t be discounted. Furthermore, one of those lurking in the long grass three off the pace is Darren Clarke, who is capable of beating anyone if he can putt as well as he did yesterday.
