Harrington leaves Woods trailing

Padraig Harrington left Tiger Woods trailing in his wake for the second day running in Hamburg today – and this time there was nobody else who could live with him either.

Harrington goes into the third round of the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open at Gut Kaden three clear of the field and a massive nine strokes ahead of the world number one.

Woods was actually in danger of suffering only the second missed cut of his professional career after bogeys at the first and third, but he got his act together to add a 71 to his opening 69.

But by then his playing partner had reached 13 under with a 66 and Woods, seeking a third successive victory in the event and fourth win in five years, conceded: “Paddy’s going to be tough to catch.

“He drove it better today and putted the same.” Brilliantly, in one word.

Harrington, bogey-free for the second day running, disagreed with the American’s calculation that he has so far missed only one putt inside 15 feet.

But the Dubliner said: “I am doing nicely. I’m very happy with my scores – I thought the course was tougher than that, but I’ve gone with it. I was making birdies, so I thought I might as well keep on doing it.”

As well as enjoying his golf he enjoyed talking with Woods for two days as well. They got into a chat about musical tastes on the 15th tee and were so into it that somebody had to tell them the fairway was clear.

Retief Goosen, joint overnight leader, dropped to second place with a 69. He had as many birdies as Harrington again, six, but this time threw in three bogeys as well.

Joint third on nine under are Scot Andrew Coltart, Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, Swede Robert Karlsson and Australian Peter O’Malley.

2 GOLF Hamburg Nightlead

Harrington struggled to find his focus at first amid the possible distractions a round with Woods and his security team presents, but once he birdied the long sixth he was off and running.

Three more birdies from the ninth took him ahead and after chipping dead at the 563-yard 15th he chipped in at the next.

Woods was in the water for the second day running at the third and, in his first appearance since a disappointing 15th place finish in his Masters defence, another of his titles is close to being out of reach as well.

Paul Casey, though, still has hopes of back-to-back victories after a 66 - helped by putting on more clothes.

“I didn’t dress properly yesterday and was freezing,” said the 25-year-old, five behind Harrington just as he was at halfway in the Benson & Hedges International Open at The Belfry last weekend. He beat him by four.

“Today I put on as many layers as I could and played some good golf. I’m controlling the ball well and the biggest difficulty I’ve had is not knowing the course.

“It was useful, though, that Phillip Price pulled out yesterday (through illness). As a two-ball I had more time to study the shots. Thanks Phillip.

“I’ve been pretty much damage-free the last couple of days and if I’m comfortable with the shots I’m going to hit I can attack pretty much any golf course right now.

“I don’t see any reason to have a poor week following a good one.”

Justin Rose, whom Casey overtook as England’s leading player in the world with his win, is determined not to follow a great year with a disappointing one.

The 22-year-old is only four under after a 68 and his frustration boiled over at the long 17th, his eighth.

Unsure about his caddie Mick Doran’s advice to lay up with a five-iron, Rose went along with it, but after hitting the shot slung the club back over to his bag.

The divot then followed and when it almost hit Doran there was an exchange of words between the two as they marched down the fairway.

“The divot had some substance and flew quite fast,” said Rose afterwards. “I think I’m allowed to get angry now and again, but Mick got the brunt of it. We don’t bear any grudges, though.

“Nothing seems to be flowing, but that’s my first bogey-free round for a while and hopefully a sign of things to come. I am going to have a better year than last year – there you go.

“Paul deserves to be England’s number one, but it’s something I’d like back. When it’s taken away you realise it’s quite a nice thing to have.”

Nick Faldo will be pleased to hear such talk. In the twilight of his career - he is 46 this July – he wants Europe to have another ‘big five’ to carry the torch lit by himself, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.

“It’s good that the tour is breeding some good names and good characters. We need a crop of them rather than just one or two – they’ve got to inspire each other. That’s the most important thing,” he said.

“I’m sure the way Justin started winning last year has inspired quite a few of the young guys. They’re the ones who are going to competing for the majors and it’s the ones who put in a little bit more now that will win them.”

Not that Faldo is ready to consider himself past it yet. His last solo win was six years ago, but he was second to Ernie Els in Australia in February and he says: “I still believe something really good is going to happen.”

It might be this weekend. After a 67 he is in the group on seven under.