HARRINGTON HITTING HEIGHTS
A second-round 68 keeps Dubliner in contention in Prague
PÁDRAIG Harrington is showing some of the best form of his season at the Czech Masters after a second-round 68 left him just two shots off the clubhouse lead on 10 under par.
The Dubliner birdied his opening hole, the 10th, but dropped a shot on the par-five 12th.
He was flawless thereafter, however, hitting three birdies in his last five holes for a round of four under.
That was the same score as now outright leader Gavin Green, who is on 12 under, ahead of Harrington, Thomas Pieters and Tapio Pulkkanen on 10 under. Malaysia’s Green added a second round of 68 to his opening 64.
Pieters needs to rely on a wild card to claim a place in the European side at the Ryder Cup in Paris next month, while England’s Eddie Pepperell, who could move into the automatic qualifying places with a win at Albatross Golf Resort, is five off the pace after a 71.
‘It’s fun to be leader and it’s been a while since I’ve been in this position so I’m going to enjoy it,’ said Green, who is seeking a first European Tour title. ‘My dad’s on the bag so we’re going to have a nice dinner maybe and a good sleep and continue tomorrow.
‘I kept to the same game plan as yesterday, hitting the driver everywhere and being pretty aggressive and I was in the rough a couple of times and the fairway a couple of times.
‘It’s nice having wedges in to par
fours though, makes it a little bit easier and you can control the spin. That gives you a lot better looks at birdie so I controlled it well and did pretty well so I’m happy.’
Pieters won a record four points on his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine in 2016 after being given a wild card by captain Darren Clarke following a runners-up finish in Prague and victory in Denmark the following week.
‘It was obviously more difficult with the wind today but I didn’t make enough putts,’ Pieters said after shooting a 70.
‘It was a disappointing finish missing two short ones coming in but overall I’m not unhappy with the position I’m in going into the weekend.
‘I’ve been striking it really well, it’s just the putting that has let me down so I need a good putting week and I really like the greens here.’
Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson was in confident mood ahead of the final two rounds of The Northern Trust despite failing to build on a flying start at Ridgewood Country Club.
Mickelson birdied the first four holes of his second round in the opening FedEx Cup play-off event in New Jersey, but eventually had to settle for a second consecutive 68 after dropping shots on the last two holes.
That left the 48-year-old lefthander four shots behind clubhouse leader Jamie Lovemark, who signed for 66, the same score as Thursday, to set the target on 10 under par.
‘I hit nine of the first 10 fairways and that allowed me to get aggressive into the greens and make some birdies,’ Mickelson added.
‘Then the last three or four holes I didn’t drive it as well but I’m hitting it well and excited to be in contention heading into the weekend. It’s good to feel like my game is coming back and I’m sharp and I’m excited about the next two rounds.
‘I think it’s going to get better as the week goes on, as I get a little bit more confident because I’ve been striking the ball well and my touch on the greens has been coming back.’
In second place is Australia’s Adam Scott on nine under, with Americans Sean O’Hair and Kevin Tway in the clubhouse on seven under. Peter Uihlein, Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay, along with Canada’s Adam Hadwin, are on six under alongside Mickelson. Former world number one Jason Day was a shot further back on five under, with Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello on four under.
Tiger Woods was among the later starters and had reached two under midway through his back nine after starting at level par.