Harrington heroics bring pot to the boil

With apologies to overnight leader Gregory Bourdy, this year’s Irish Open got the shot in the arm it needed when Pádraig Harrington birdied the 17th hole at Royal Portrush yesterday evening.

Frenchman Bourdy may lead this tournament at 12 under par after 36 holes, holding a one-shot advantage over England’s Mark Foster, but it is the figure of Ireland’s three-time major winner who looms largest on the leaderboard this morning heading into the third round.

Harrington lies two strokes behind Bourdy in a three-way tie for third place with Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli and England’s Paul Waring, who shot the round of the day, a seven-under-par 65.