Pádraig Harrington shot a 75 in testing conditions in the second round of The Barclays at Liberty National in New Jersey to drop six shots off the lead he was in sight of after yesterday’s 67.

The Dubliner began brightly with a birdie at the par-three second but bogeyed the next and the fifth before dropping two more shots at the seventh.

On a rain-soaked course the three-time Major winner did well to par every hole until the last when a bogey ensured yesterday’s four under was wiped out by a 75.

"I am used to it (the rain) but it doesn't mean I like it," said the Irishman afterwards.

Joint overnight leader Sergio Garcia suffered a similar fate after he carded a 76 to drop back to one-under-par.

"It was hands down the longest course I've played this year, the way it was playing," said Garcia.

"I don't know how many five, four and three-irons I hit into the green. I (also) hit some woods into the green."

Garcia finished later yesterday to join Paul Goydos and Steve Marino in the lead. The Americans were late starters but both picked up early birdies to move to seven under.

Tiger Woods dropped a shot at the second and was back to level par through five holes.

England's Ian Poulter posted three birdies and four bogeys for a one-over-par 72 and a three-under aggregate of 139.

With no run on the fairways and with winds blowing across the scenic course by New York harbour, par was a good score for the select field competing in the first leg of the PGA Tour's four-tournament FedExCup series.

Americans Bill Haas (70) and Charles Howell III (70) produced the only sub-par rounds of the morning to finish on 142 and 146 respectively.

"It was brutally tough when the rain started and the wind picked up but I hung in there," Poulter told reporters. "I'm a little disappointed to make bogey on two of the par-fives. That was a little bit careless and frustrating."

American Charley Hoffman was one stroke behind Poulter after shooting a 74 for 140.