On-song Harrington on heels of Sutherland

The Players Championship in Florida, golf’s richest event, is fast becoming one of Padraig Harrington’s favourites.

The Dubliner won £315,000 for finishing joint runner-up last year and two birdies in his last three holes yesterday left him only three strokes behind surprise American pacesetter Kevin Sutherland.

Harrington, chasing a first prize of £800,000, added a 70 to his opening 68 for a halfway total of 138.