US Open:Padraig Harrington got to witness first hand a master class from world number two Phil Mickelson in the second round of the US Open at Pebble Beach, but the three-time major winner – who believes he must replicate his weekend performance of two years ago in the US PGA at Oakland Hills if he is to force his way into contention – has put his faith in Graeme McDowell to push on and potentially win a maiden major.
“Oh, I think Graeme can win,” said Harrington, adding: “His character is that when he is leading he gets on a run and he is very confident. I honestly think he can win from the front. There is not a lot of people you can say that about, but he is that sort of character.”
McDowell – who added a second round 68 to his opening 71 for 139, three under par – claimed the midway lead in the season’s second major to carry a two shot advantage into the third round over the quartet of Mickelson, Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson and Ryo Ishikawa.
Mickelson produced the low round of the championship so far in firing a magnificent 66 to add to his opening 75 and make huge strides up the leaderboard in his quest to claim a first US Open title. Mickelson is a five-time runner-up in the US Open, but Lefty – winner of the Masters in April – made a charge up the field that even had Harrington, in the same group, looking on in appreciation.
“Phil didn’t miss a shot all day. He was spectacular all day and I got to see it first hand. It’s certainly the best I’ve ever seen him play. It was as easy a 66 as you’ll ever see,” observed Harrington, who had a second successive 73 to trail 36-holes leader McDowel by seven shots.
If Harrington is to make a charge of his own, then he expects he will need to reproduce a weekend like he had in Detroit two years ago when he shot successive 66s to claim a third major. “I’d love to see one of the rounds being absolute chaos. When you’re seven shots behind, it doesn’t take much for shots to disappear on a windy, firm day out there. I’m not saying I would enjoy it myself, but it would give me the best opportunity.
“But if you want to see the best winner, you’d want the same conditions as we’ve had for the last two days. That would produce a fair champion,” said Harrington.