Harrington shoots 62 to soar into contention
The 38-year-old Dubliner even had a putt on the last to lower his all-time best round on the circuit, but mishit it from 18 feet.
“Pity I didn’t give it a better run,” he said. “I played the tough holes really well and that gave me the opportunity to shoot a really good score. It could even have been the magic number.”
Nobody has ever managed a 59 in Europe.
From joint 32nd place overnight – his first thought was to make sure he made the cut – Harrington goes into the weekend in third spot.
Italy’s Francesco Molinari continues to head the field after adding a 66 to move to 15-under par and one clear of South African Charl Schwartzel, who bogeyed the last for a 65.
Harrington’s 62 matched a course record 62 he shot in the 2000 Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open while he also shot a similar score during the 2001 BMW International Open in Munich.
Harrington is looking to win for a first time on Tour since capturing last year’s US PGA Championship.
But after the lowest round of the day and with Harrington needing to use the putter on just 26 occasions, he then remarked he wasn’t at all comfortable on the putting surfaces.
“I went with my old putter again today after taking 30 putts with my other putter that I won my three Majors, and that I used yesterday,” he said.
“But I was very distracted on the greens again today and the closer I got to the hole, the worse I was. I was fine some of the times from 15 and 20 feet but I just struggled in reading the greens. I struggled with trusting them again, and just did not feel comfortable at all.
“It’s a shame so hopefully I will do better on the weekend but it is nice to be in position and we will see what happens.”
Reigning Irish Open champion Shane Lowry continues to impress in carding a 65 that included an eagle and seven birdies but also a double bogey at the 18th that he was playing as his ninth.
“I’m playing well and even after a bad finish yesterday evening, I knew I was playing well enough to shoot a good score today,” said Lowry.
“Even with the double on 18, I knew I was playing well enough. Just one bad tee shot there but the rest of the round was great.”
Peter Lawrie (68), Damien McGrane (67) and Tour rookie Gareth Maybin (67) are next best of the Irish on eight under par.
Darren Clarke (68) is a shot further back on seven under par while Paul McGinley (69) and Rory McIlroy (70) will start day three on five under par.
“I’ve just struggled on the greens the last two days,” said McIlroy who has recorded 33 putts each day.
And McIlroy admitted he got ‘thousands’ of responses to his Twitter note after Thursday’s round when he asked: “Does anyone know how to putt, as I don’t. I wish I had taken someone up on it,” he joked.
McIlroy also said he is “80% sure” that he will not be joining the American tour next year – in total contradiction of some newspaper reports.
The 20-year-old, on course to become the youngest-ever winner of the European Order of Merit, is expected to make his decision known in Dubai next month.
But he stated in Portugal yesterday that he is “definitely leaning” towards staying as a member only in Europe for at least one more season.
That would still allow him to play majors, world championships and a few other events in the States.
“I’m happy with that,” added the world number 18, golf’s biggest new star.
“Fifteen (the minimum he would have to play as a PGA Tour member) is not hard to do, but I don’t want to be going back and forth.
Gary Murphy (69) missed the four under par cut by a stroke while Graeme McDowell confessed he has lost all motivation after a second round 71 for an uncharacteristic one over par total.
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