GOLF/Players Championship: Padraig Harrington got off to the most erratic start to his second round at the Players Championship at Sawgrass in Florida yesterday.

The Dubliner, who began the day on two-under-par, bogeyed his first hole, the 10th, recovered to birdie the next two holes, and then gave the advantage right back at the 13th to return to his starting position.

And Paul McGinley had an equally erratic start - but a more positive one - to his second round. Starting the day in tied 105th position and in real danger of missing the cut, McGinley birdied the first and the second, bogeyed the third and struck for birdie again at the fourth to move to one-over-par and a share of 48th place.

But Darren Clarke was unable to recover from an opening round, four-over-par 76. A creditable second round 73, which contained three birdies and four bogeys, was only good enough to leave him five over par and well outside the cut.

And an increased police presence was not enough to stop Colin Montgomerie being subjected to some heckling again.

Way behind his playing partners off the tee at the long 16th - his seventh hole of the second round - a spectator yelled out: "Colin, take the head cover off next time."

Montgomerie, having already bogeyed his first three holes, promptly hit a three-wood into the lake and with a bogey six put himself in more danger of missing the halfway cut at two over par.

Then, as he was just about to hit his tee-shot to the island green 17th, there was another yell from the gallery and he had to step back.