Golf: European number one Padraig Harrington has joined the United States PGA Tour as a Special Temporary Member for the remainder of 2003.

The world number seven made the decision at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, where he is playing for the first time. "I haven't made up my mind about permanent membership on the PGA Tour," Harrington said.

"The problem for me is that it seems easy to play 10, 11 or 12 events, but really difficult to play 15 events . . . and if I'm going to give it a go, you want to play 20 events."

If Harrington wanted to play the PGA Tour full-time, he would have to participate in a minimum of 15 tournaments each season.

Harrington has earned $572,000 in four events on the PGA Tour this year, surpassing last year's number 150 on the final PGA money list, and is thus eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the rest of 2003.

With Europe his first priority, Harrington is not concerned about playing the minimum 11 events on the European Tour to keep his card.

However, the combination of playing both tours will require him to eliminate some other worldwide tournaments and potentially play 29 weeks a year between Europe and the US to give himself a realistic chance of competing for honours.

"I have to cut out everything else," Harrington said. "Play in Europe and the States and nowhere else, basically. That's what it comes down to, either you play a worldwide schedule or else. You don't want to get caught in between."

Harrington added a one-under-par 71 yesterday for a halfway total of three-under 141 to trail clubhouse leader Kenny Perry by eight shots.

Harrington got to three under for the day with birdies at the third, fourth and fifth, but dropped shots at the sixth and ninth saw him turn in 35. A mix and match set on the back nine of birdie at the 14th, double bogey at the 15th and a birdie two at the 16th saw him back in 36.