Clarke in contention at Augusta

Darren Clarke has had another remarkable day at Augusta and pulled within four of leader Chad Campbell.

The Ulsterman, who had said he'd be treating the tournament as a holiday, came back from a bogey at the seventh to birdie the next two and take himself to one-under.

He could have climbed even higher than his share of seventh but for a missed birdie opportunity on the 13th. His approach shot into the creek and he did well to make a par five after taking a penalty drop.

Clarke's 70 adds to his opening 72 to make him just one of just a handful of players in the clubhouse under par.

A double bogey seven — his second of the week — and a late three-putt bogey left Colin Montgomerie in severe danger of missing the halfway cut for the fifth event running.

Padraig Harrington continued his superb recovery from being five-over after seven yesterday.

The Dubliner was up to level par when he birdied the long eighth. He did then bogey the ninth, but then came a birdie at the 13th.

Rocco Mediate and world number three Retief Goosen were joint third on three-under, while Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir, the two left-handers to have won the title, were one further back.

Lee Westwood was almost certain to bow out. Setting off again on three-over the Worksop golfer double-bogeyed the 10th and with one to go stood six-over.

For the second day running, Luke Donald - third last year - bogeyed the first. When he made four on the second, though, he returned to two-over.