Harrington and Woods make progress

Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods both made moves up the leaderboard at Bay Hill during early second-round play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando today.

Ireland’s Harrington, preparing for his attempt for a third straight major championship victory at The Masters in two weeks, had opened with a level-par round of 70 on a firm and fast track at the 7,239-yard course yesterday, while world number one Woods had shot a 68, three shots back on the overnight lead held by Jason Gore.

With good scoring again hard to come by, Open and US PGA champion Harrington made his move with a two-under-par round of 68 to take him to two under for the tournament, three off the clubhouse lead.

US Open and defending champion Woods will start the third round at three-under after 36 holes following his one-under 69.

Sean O’Hair, who opened with a 67 yesterday, moved into the lead at six under with three birdies in a row from the 10th tee.

Gore lost a share of the lead with a bogey at the 17th on another breezy day in central Florida but bounced back with a birdie to take the clubhouse lead at five under.

There were contrasting fortunes for Harrington and Woods at the final hole of their round, the ninth, with the Irishman missing a nine-footer and three-putting for a five, his only bogey of the day.

Woods, meanwhile, had missed nine greens in regulation after another wayward day off the tee but again compensated with a red-hot putter.

Having needed just 24 putts yesterday, Woods closed out his second round with his 25th putt of the day for a par and despite his disappointing ball striking will be satisfied to have remained in touch with the leaders.

Tim Herron, the 1999 champion, was four under after the first round and still on the leaderboard without having begun his second round, while Woods was already in the clubhouse on three under.

Vaughan Taylor had an ace at the par-three seven to help him to a 68, two under for the week and in the clubhouse alongside Harrington and his fellow Americans Lee Janzen, Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney and Mark Wilson.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh shot a 68 to move to one under at the halfway point while the North’s Graeme McDowell improved two shots on his opening 71 to reach level par after 36 holes.

England’s Oliver Wilson fired an even-par 70 to remain at two over heading into the weekend with the projected cut mark at four over par.

That left fellow Englishmen Justin Rose – who will start at five over – Greg Owen, at eight over after 17, and Ian Poulter, who was eight over after four, with plenty of work to do to reach the third round.

Also heading for an early exit were Swedish duo Carl Petterson, 12 over following a 74 today and Fredrik Jacobsen, 10 over with one to play, as well as teenage Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, who was as seven over with two holes to play.

Compatriot Ross Fisher is already on his way out, however, having been disqualified following his second-round 79 for turning in an incorrect scorecard.

Harrington, despite misgivings about his putting during the round, was satisfied with his day's work.

“It’s always good to shoot two-under par around here but I am disappointed there, three-putting the last and missing three short birdie putts in the last six holes,” Harrington said.

“Things like that happen at times, but still happy with the score.

“I haven’t putted very well for the two days, so that needs to be a bit better. I just need to be a bit more trusting actually, all the way through my game.