It all goes wrong for Pádraig Harrington

Satisfaction, relief, tension and disappointment – Ireland’s Masters competitors ran the range of emotions at Augusta National last night as the first major of the year reached the halfway stage.

The disappointment belonged to Pádraig Harrington, whose return to the Masters after a year’s absence was all too brief. But, for Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell, the promise of a weekend’s play at Augusta National brought only positives, particularly given neither player is entirely happy with their games right now.

Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open champion, will also be hanging around after a second-round, one-under 71 that will see him start today’s third round at one over par thanks to two birdies in the last four holes last night. Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup captain shares the same score as McDowell, who carded a four-birdie, six-bogey 74 for his second round.