Wind dents Irish bid

Ireland’s hopes of repeating their 1997 World Cup victory at Kiawah Island suffered a potentially fatal blow today.

Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were blown off course in blustery conditions during the opening fourballs, slumping to a two over par 74 to lie seven shots off the pace.

Harrington had birdied the first two holes but struggled with his swing thereafter, and was still on the practice range as night fell on Thursday evening trying to find a cure.

It did not look as if all the hard work had paid off however as he and McGinley went to the turn in 40 in Friday’s foursomes, dropping a massive 10 shots off the lead.

The prayers of all 23 remaining teams had been answered when Friday dawned without a repeat of the strong winds which sent scores soaring on Thursday, but both Ireland and England failed to take advantage of the relatively calm conditions.

Both bogeyed the opening hole but while Paul Casey and Justin Rose managed two birdies and another bogey to be out in 36 to remain one over, Ireland were grateful that minnows Hong Kong and India were keeping them from last place.

A bogey on the third was followed by a birdie on the fourth where Harrington converted McGinley’s good approach, but they then ran up a double bogey six on the sixth after McGinley fluffed a chip following a wayward second from his team-mate.

Another shot went at the ninth and at six over par Ireland were in danger of becoming one of the also-rans.

At the top of the leaderboard Germany’s Alex Cejka and Marcel Siem had bogeyed the first but remained one ahead of a six-strong chasing pack including Scotland and pre-tournament favourites the United States.

Scotland had made a flying start, Paul Lawrie converting Alastair Forsyth’s approach for an eagle at the second to jump to three under par, while Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard had continued where they left off yesterday.

The American pair birdied two of the last three holes on Thursday for a 71, and birdied the second and seventh on Friday to improve to three under.

Wales had began the day in second place just a shot off the lead after a superb opening 68, but Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge dropped shots at the first and third to fall back into a tie for seventh on two under.

Ireland did manage a birdie on the par five 11th but dropped shots at the 10th and 13th to lie seven over par, now 12 off the lead.

Germany were still out in front on five under after Siem holed from five feet on the par five seventh, with South Africa’s Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini now their nearest challengers on four under after going to the turn in 34.

Scotland were just a shot further back in third however, Lawrie left with a tap-in for birdie on the ninth after a superb approach from team-mate Forsyth.

Wales were still in touch on two under despite a bogey on the eighth, but England were still one over with three holes to play.