Harrington on high Road
Harrington stands on four under par, two strokes behind the halfway pacesetter Luke Donald and one adrift of home club tournament professional Ross Fisher. But the leader board is so tightly packed that several of the other Irish survivors can make their presence felt over the next couple of days with Damien McGrane currently best placed on two under.
A terrific attendance of 22,489, a comfortable record for the second day, enjoyed not just glorious weather conditions, but witnessed Europe’s best severely tested by the new-look Burma Road.
Harrington wasn’t overjoyed at his ball striking, but, at the same time, didn’t get himself into too much trouble. And when he did, his renowned scrambling powers were again evident. He saved par at the 9th, after finding sand off the tee, thanks to a glorious third shot to a couple of feet, while a 40 yard recovery from the front bunker at the 15th was a strong contender for shot of the day.
“I didn’t put myself under a lot of pressure and it was nice to get a couple of birdie putts at the end,” he said. “It was a good day’s work at two under par but four under gets me back into the tournament.”
He would, of course, be better placed again were it not for a horrific eight at the 17th on Thursday when he claimed the conditions were a lot tougher. Although clearly very happy to be in a position to improve on his best previous finish in the tournament — sixth in 2006 — Harrington is taking absolutely nothing for granted.
“I’m not buzzing with confidence, but I think tougher conditions will suit me,” he mused. “If I shot another couple of 67s, I think anyone who gets it to 12 under will be unlucky not to win. Every part of my game played its part and nothing jumped out that would have been running up to the practice range.
“I will stick with more of that for the next two days for sure. It is a good thing that I am a little bit on my toes. I think this golf course keeps you that way. There is plenty of intimidation.”
Harrington has taken a lot of flak over the years for leaving the European Tour’s flagship event out of his schedule, but, as he relaxed last night, he spoke of how pleased he was to be in contention and that “obviously, I have put myself under the spotlight over the years but now that I am back here I am kind of justifying it.”
On the subject of the controversial 18th hole, he sided with Ernie Els, the man who designed it, stressing that the original was simply too bland.
Damien McGrane has played solidly for 36 holes, yesterday adding a 71 to Thursday’s 69. He was disappointed at taking 37, one over regulation, for his homeward journey, but that was nothing to the despair felt by Peter Lawrie, who played beautifully controlled golf for the first 17 holes only to become the latest to fall victim of the 18th. It cost him a triple bogey eight but, as luck would have it, the Dubliner still made the cut at two over.
The eight Irish through to the weekend are Harrington, minus 4; McGrane, minus 2; Graeme McDowell, minus 1; Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Gareth Maybin, all one over; Paul McGinley and Lawrie two over.
Sadly, Darren Clarke is in a deep golfing trough and finished ten over after yesterday’s 77. David Higgins improved by six on Thursday’s 80 to finish 12 over, while Michael Hoey took ill and withdrew.
The weekend promises a fascinating golfing duel. Luke Donald has certainly earned his place at the head of affairs and looks just the kind of calm, patient individual well equipped to cope with the particular problems posed by the Burma Road.
Ross Fisher, second here last year, has all the local support just one off the pace. Paul Casey, another stroke adrift, numbers a World Match Play title as well as last year’s PGA at Wentworth on his c.v.
Casey has been hyper critical of many of the changes introduced by Els who, however, demonstrated that his course can be played and never more tellingly than by the two brilliant shots he struck into the heart of his much maligned 18th green.
The South African followed a big drive with a seven iron from 191 yards that pulled up 18 feet from the flag and he went close with the eagle putt. At three under and three behind Donald and winner twice already in the States this year, Els fancies his prospects of adding a first PGA title to the five World Match Play Championships he has captured at Wentworth.
While joint long odds favourites Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood scraped into the weekend on one and two over, the major casualties were Martin Kaymer and Miguel-Angel Jimenez, four over, and Ian Poulter, five over, in spite of a battling 69 yesterday. The cut eventually came at three over par.
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