Padraig Harrington is only one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the Irish Open but it could have been so much better for the 2007 champion.
Harrington started on the back nine and made back to back birdies after six pars. He even got himself to 7 under after 10 holes but played his last eight holes in five over par to end up on 2 under.
Harrington admits it was disappointing he couldn’t push on when he opened up a five shot lead:
Tyrell Hatton is one of six players in a share of the lead on 3 under thanks to a course record 65 (-5) today.
Soren Kjeldson, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Chris Wood, Richie Ramsey and Bernd Wiesberger are also 3 under.
Rory McILroy won’t be around for the weekend despite a better display today. The world number one followed his round of 80 with a level par 71.
McIlroy had given himself a decent chance of making the cut despite starting the day on 9 over par.
He birdied the 7th and the 12th to move to 7 over and within two shots of the cut but it was all undone on 15th with a double bogey.
As for the rest of the Irish, Paul McGinley’s 3 over par while Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Simon Thornton all just made the cut on 5 over.
Shane Lowry finished up on 4 over even though he played 15 holes of his round without a putter
The Offaly man was frustrated after missing a short putt on the par 5 12th hole (his third) so he broke his putter and almost walked off the course later in the round.
However his caddie convinced him to stay on and he managed to make three birdies despite using a wedge on the greens.
The 2009 champion holed from 15 foot on the 7th but he admits his behaviour wasn’t acceptable:
