Harrington saves the day

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON punched the air in relief, Michael Smurfit looked to the heavens with an expression of the deepest gratitude and the crowd roared their approval.

Just before 6pm yesterday, it looked as if the people's champion was on his way out of the Smurfit European Open. Needing a birdie four at the long 18th to make the cut, Harrington leaked his tee shot into a bunker, came out well but was still a few inches off the putting surface in three and a good 25 feet away. Somehow, he summoned up all his reserves of skill and courage, went boldly for the back of the hole and the ball duly dropped in.

Harrington would have been bitterly disappointed to have missed the cut, especially on home territory, and while he accepts he now has no chance of winning, is still looking forward to a couple of relaxing but competitive rounds over the weekend. He needs them, because he's not playing in next week's Scottish Open and otherwise would have been idle between now and the Open Championship starting at Royal St Georges on Thursday week.