Harrington ready to pounce in Germany

Defending champion Padraig Harrington, yet to retain a title in his professional career, has given himself the chance to correct that at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg tomorrow.

A day which began with Ryder Cup hopeful Ian Poulter pulling out after hearing his fiancee had gone into labour saw Harrington move from eighth place into a share of second.

But it took a lecture to himself after a disappointing front nine for it to happen.

Five behind after each of the first two rounds, the Dubliner defied windy conditions to come home in 32 to finish with a 68 and a 10-under-par total of 206.

He and South African Trevor Immelman (69) will start the final round just two behind France’s Gregory Havret, who, in the race for the €500,000 first prize and a bagful of Ryder Cup points, shot 68 to take over at the top from a faltering Alex Cejka.

“Going down the 10th I had to remind myself what I was trying to do,” commented Harrington.

“To be level par after nine holes was a big disappointment. It’s easy to go into your own little world and sulk a bit, but I realised there were still 27 holes to go and a look at the leaderboard told me nobody was running away.

“It was a question of getting my act together and it turned around very quickly, although I didn’t feel I had to do it straightaway.”

He made a 15-footer on the 10th, chipped in from 24 yards for eagle at the 12th and added further birdies on the 13th and 15th.

There was still some more disappointment to come. First a six on the long 17th after he “fell asleep” on the tee and then a missed six-foot birdie chance at the last.

“Shots are hard to come by on Sunday, so why let them slip on Saturday?” he said.

Havret’s one tour win was the 2001 Italian Open, but the 27-year-old lost a play-off in South Africa in January and is a best-ever 32nd on the Order of Merit at present.

He came back well from the shock of triple-bogeying the final hole in the second round after joining Cejka out in front.

As it was, the German was the one to slide, managing only a 76 and bringing playing partner David Howell down with him. Howell tied for second with Havret, had a 75.

Meanwhile Darren Clarke, seeking his first win in Europe since the 2002 English Open, moved into fifth spot with a 70 – he matched Harrington’s eagle on the 12th - and alongside him is Joakim Haeggman after a best-of-the-day 66.

The Swede, named in March as one of Bernhard Langer’s assistants for the Ryder Cup, covered the back nine in 30 and, having won the Qatar Masters earlier this season, has far from given up on winning a second cap 11 years after his first.

“Every penny I can make can help and I’m sure it’s quite easy to find another locker room boy,” he said.

Others with high hopes of being in the team fared less well. Paul Casey and Lee Westwood had survived the halfway cut with nothing to spare like Poulter and went back to five over with rounds of 75.

Colin Montgomerie and Justin Rose missed the cut and will have to try again at the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth next week.