Harrington finishes with a flourish

Defending champion Padraig Harrington made a tap-in eagle at the final hole to take a share of the lead after the second round at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki today.

Harrington struck a five-wood to inside three feet at the par-five 18th to card five-under-par 65 on another ideal day at Phoenix Country Club.

The Open champion joined fellow European Ian Poulter (68) at seven-under 133, one stroke ahead of Finn Mikko Ilonen (65) and Japanese duo Shingo Katayama (67) and Daisuke Marayama (67).

Briton Luke Donald was among a group two strokes off the pace.

Harrington started slowly with a bogey at the second hole, and admitted his attitude was not the best until he received a stern rebuke from his caddie.

“I was getting frustrated and losing patience,” he said. “My caddie had a stern talk with me. He was at pains to point out that we had only played 22 holes and there were 50 holes to go.

“After that I made some birdies, got right into the thick of things.”

Sixteen-year-old amateur Ryo Ishikawa shot a respectable 68 to improve to equal 30th, seven strokes off the pace.