Harrington eases the pain

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON overcame a sore hip, an ankle problem and some wayward driving to lead the prestigious Players Championship — the un-official fifth major — in Florida.

The Ryder Cup Dubliner, forced to play 28 holes in the day because of Thursday's rain, produced superb rounds of 67 and 68 for a nine under par halfway total of 135, two ahead of defending champion Craig Perks and former winner Davis Love.

"The scoring was good, but as the day progressed I got wilder and wilder," he said.