Golf – PGA Championship:Pádraig Harrington moved to the business end of proceedings after a best of the day 67 left the Dubliner just two shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the €4.5million PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The three-time major winner was the model of consistency, carding four birdies - two on each nine - and no dropped shots. In many ways it was similar to yesterday’s round, with the exception of his triple bogey at the 17th.
Harrington picked up birdies at the second and fourth to turn in 33 before putting the shine on the round with further birdies at 16 and 18. His final birdie came after a controlled pitch from light rough, which ran up the new green to within four feet before he holed out.
"Nothing really stood out," was Harrington's typically understated assessment of the round. "That said I holed a good 20-footer for birdie at the second which helped the good start."
"It's nice to be back and it's nice to be doing well and in contention now," added Harrington after staying away from the last two events because he was never a big fan of the old West Course layout. He was more positive than most, however, of the changes made by Ernie Els in the €8million facelift.
"The changes to the greens suit me, you know what you are going to get," adding that he was in support of the new look 18th. "I think Ernie's (Els) has done a good job. The second to the 18th is great and I'm surprised to hear the criticism; it's a good tough hole."
Damien McGrane had been the leading the Irish player for much of the afternoon but had to settle for a level par 71 to remain two under, one ahead of Graeme McDowell (71).
At one point Rory McIlroy and Gareth Maybin faced anxious waits to see if they would be around for the weekend, but made it safely into the weekend on one over after the cut fell to three over.
After a poor opening 74, McIlroy quickly set about correcting his over par status with three birdies in his opening five holes to get back to level for the tournament. It was the erratic finish which undid the good work.
A fourth birdie at 13 moved McIlroy to one under before a double-bogey, bogey, birdie, par combination from the 15th left the Holywood golfer signing for a second round 69 for a 143 aggregate.
“I went for a stupid shot, but overall it was not a bad round,” reflected McIlroy afterwards, who recently won his first PGA Tour event after just making the cut.
Several weeks ago the world number nine scraped in on the cut mark at Quail Hollow Championship. From there sensational weekend rounds of 66, 62 earned him his first PGA Tour title in fine style.
Maybin (74) dropped from leading Irishman after the first round to join McIlroy on one over, the same mark as Irish Open champion Shane Lowry (71).
Paul McGinley also made the cut despite a 73 dropping the Ryder Cup hero to two over. He was joined by Peter Lawrie, who was left to rue a triple bogey eight at the by infamous 18th hole before signing for a 74.
Darren Clarke's race was run after shooting 77 for a 10 over aggregate. David Higgins, qualified off the Irish PGA money list, shot 74 to finish 12 over.
Belfast’s Michael Hoey withdrew from the event citing illness.
Overnight leader Danny Willett lost some ground with a one over 72 which paved the way for fellow Englishman Luke Donald to assume the overnight lead.
A second consecutive 68 left Donald on six under, one ahead of Willett, Ross Fisher (70) and South Africa's James Kingston (69) in a tie for second.
Defending champion Paul Casey got into the mix with a 68 and was also part of the chasing pack on four under.
Els birdied the last for a 70 to get to three under, while Lee Westwood joined the group on two over after 74.