A HIGH AND A LOW
Harrington shares lead as McIlroy misses cut
PADRAIG Harrington shared the halfway lead at the Scottish Open on Friday as Rory McIlroy remained optimistic for next week’s British Open at Royal Birkdale despite missing the cut.
Harrington, who won the Open at Birkdale in 2008, shot a second-round 68 on Friday to take control at Dundonald Links on nine-under with Callum Shinkwin and little-known German Alexander Knappe.
But McIlroy struggled for a second-round 71 to add to his opening 74 for a one-over total of 145 on a rain-softened course just to the south of Glasgow.
The world number four produced birdies at the third, fifth and seventh to move one under but then failed at a first attempt to get out of a greenside bunker in taking a double bogey on 13.
It is the second week in succession and also a third occasion in his last four events McIlroy has sat out the weekend rounds.
Instead, McIlroy will now head south to Royal Birkdale, and next week’s 146th British Open host venue, for what will be unscheduled weekend practice rounds.
And after two separate injury concerns earlier this year and far less fairway time, McIlroy admits he is far short of competition.
“No, I have not had far enough competitive rounds this year with my injuries and I have missed a lot of events,” he said.
“You just can’t mess with an injury and come back too early, so I missed a lot of play because of that and I have been playing catch-up all year because of that.
“So, I would have loved to have played more rounds not just going into next week but for the whole season.”
However McIlroy believes there is enough good signs in his game to be optimistic heading to Birkdale in a goal of capturing a fifth major championship.
“Look, it is what it is and I just have to get myself ready for next week.
“I just feel like I have been on the wrong side of things these past two weeks and hopefully I am on the right side next week.”
Meanwhile Harrington, who is clearly excited about returning to Birkdale, enjoyed a calm second day compared the “stress” on day one when he frantically had to search for a lost ball late in his round.
“Today was just boring. There was no stress. All day, I made two birdies on par 5s and I hit two 7irons on my 10th and 11th hole, the first and second hole, in pretty close,” he said
“So, that was my day and it couldn’t have been more opposite than yesterday.”
England’s Ian Poulter, who finished an Open career best of runner-up to Harrington in 2008, recorded a 69, that included holing a 40-foot birdie, to be sharing fourth place at eight under and just a stroke from the lead.
World No 10 Rickie Fowler, with a round of 70, is two shots off the leading trio and sharing sixth at seven under.