Harrington’s magical par keeps him in the hunt

Pádraig Harrington made a miraculous par at the last to card a second successive 68 and finish his day just two shots behind the clubhouse leaders in the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.

In what could be the turning point in his season, the struggling 42-year old triple major winner bounced back brilliantly from an early double bogey six at the third with birdies at the fourth, sixth, ninth and 11th to move into contention.

Having confessed last week he simply “can’t get away from it” this season in reference to the cut line, it appeared he was about to undo all his hard work when he pulled his tee shot into the lake at the 18th at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving on the outskirts of Dallas.