Putter lets Rory McIllroy down

Rory McIlroy’s putting might have let him down but Pádraig Harrington jumped to the world No. 3’s defence after he appeared destined to miss the cut in the Honda Classic.

As Shane Lowry also struggled on the greens in the afternoon winds, carding a five over par 75 to slip 10 shots behind leader Rickie Fowler on two over par, McIlroy appeared doomed to miss his second successive cut at PGA National and his first since the Irish Open at Royal County Down nine months ago.

Winner of the Honda Classic in 2012 before walking off the following year, the 26-year old Co Down man has now missed the cut two years running at the Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens.