Padraig Harrington is threatening to repeat his 2004 feat of winning the week before playing in the Ryder Cup thanks to a scintillating finish in the Madrid Open second round, but after such a positive return to competition yesterday Darren Clarke's has failed to make any headway.

Harrington crashed a 403-yard downhill drive and then holed a 43-foot putt from just off the green at his finishing hole for an eagle.

He finished with a seven-under-par 65 which hauled him to 12-under-par and a four-shot early lead. However, he was soon joined by Scotland's Gary Orr.

Fellow-Irishman Damien McGrane is between Harrington and a clutch of players on eight-under.

In 2004, Harrington ended a run of poor form to claim the German Masters title in Cologne and then go on to help Europe to a record victory over the United States at Oakland Hills.

Clarke, in contrast, struggled all day and remains at four-under-par.  The Dungannon golfer struck two early birdies on the second and fourth but was back to where started after dropped shots on the sixth and ninth.

The back nine produced little else other than a bogey on the 16th and birdie on the 17th.

McGrane, in search of his maiden title having gone close in the Dutch Open, will be very happy with his second round after five birdies helped him to his second four-under 68.

Michael Hoey is likely to miss the cut at level-par but Gary Murphy may well have hit the road already after a 78 left him on eight-over.

Europe's other Ryder Cup player Jose Maria Olazabal is three-under par thanks to a 71.

Speaking after his 65, Harrington said: "I do tend to play better towards the end of the year. But winning the week before the Ryder Cup is just coincidence.

"It's all about goals and focus. When you see the finishing line you know you've got to run a bit faster."

While Harrington has had later victories on the US Tour, his last European Tour title came with the 2004 Cologne victory.

This time he ended a brief mediocre spell two weeks ago when losing in a playoff in the BMW International Open, won by Swede Henrik Stenson, sealing his Ryder Cup spot on the way.

With seven birdies before the closing eagle, Harrington's performance should delight Europe's captain Ian Woosnam before next week's matchplay with the United States.

Until Harrington roared away by picking up four shots in his last three holes, Fernandez-Castano (66), looking for a second win of the season, and Jacquelin (68), aiming to repeat his Club de Campo success last year, had stayed with the Irishman.