Harrington struggles in Germany

Retief Goosen quickly moved into the outright lead in the Linde German Masters today – but defending champion Padraig Harrington was battling just to make the cut.

Goosen began the second round at Gut Larchenhof one shot off the overnight lead held by six players, but was soon two shots clear of the field on eight under par.

Starting from the 10th, the double US Open champion missed a birdie chance from 10ft there, but made no such mistake from just three feet on the par-three 11th.

The South African was unhappy with his approach to the next but still holed for another birdie from 18ft, and made it three in a row on the par-five 13th despite having to lay up with his approach after cutting his drive into heavy rough.

Playing partner Harrington also birdied the 13th after reaching the green in two, but that was only good enough to get the Irishman back to three over par.

A drive into the rough on the 10th had cost Harrington a bogey and birdie chances went begging on the 11th and 12th.

With the cut likely to fall at one or two under par, the Dubliner still had a lot of work to do to ensure he would be here for the weekend.

Of the overnight leaders, only Zimbabwe’s Marc Cayeux and England’s Andrew Marshall had started their second rounds, both remaining six under after three and one holes respectively.