Padraig Harrington ready for the grind as wind and rain play havoc

Bloodied but unbowed, Pádraig Harrington has abandoned hopes of coasting to victory at Royal County Down this weekend and will instead knuckle down to a 36 holes of hard graft as he fights to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Having opened a five-shot lead midway through his second round yesterday, Harrington finished with a two-over-par 73 but will start today’s third round still right in contention in a tie for second with Luke Donald at two under par, just one stroke behind a six-way tie for the halfway lead.