Harrington moves into position

Padraig Harrington's quest to finish top of the European Order of Merit is still alive, if not exactly kicking.  The Irishman needs a top three finish to edge ahead of England's Paul Casey at the last opportuntity. The Dubliner kept himself in the hunt today with a 69, a promising score considering the capitulation which occurred all around him.

Casey, who is suffering from suspected food-poisoning, described himself as feeling like he's "been beaten up" after a second round 72 in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama which leaves himself on six-over par, 10 strokes behind leader Henrik Stenson .

Stenson moved into top spot with a 68 - the round of the day - as overnight leader Jose Manuel Lara and second-placed Graeme McDowell dropped rapidly down the leaderboard with 76 and 78 respectively.

The Irishman once again displayed the inconsistency that has dogged his season and carded eight bogeys and just the one birdie to drop from four-under to three-over par.

England's David Howell and Swede Robert Karlsson, who need a top-two finishes to claim the Harry Vardon trophy, did not suffer so dramatically but nonetheless fell back to one-over par.

Harrington began his round well with three birdies and one bogey on the front nine.  A couple of bogeys on the 11th and 13th threatened to undo the good work until a strong finish, notably birdies on 14 and 17, brought him to level-par overall.

"I don't really need to worry about the Order of Merit," the Dubliner said afterwards. "I just need to keep myself in contention and hopefully they (the leaders) won't run away from me...otherwise I'll be there or thereabouts.

"I've had a bad day and an average day, so hopefully I've got a couple of good ones left. A lot of players are coming down with whatever it is, but I'm taking no precautions. I'll probably regret that tomorrow."

The "precautions" rush was sparked by the attack of stomach cramps that contributed to an opening 76 from Casey.  The Englishman was sick back at his hotel and then suffered more diarrhoea last night, but he appears to be on the mend now, though it could be too late.

"I'm over the worst now," he was happy to report after his round. "I managed to eat half a sandwich, which was the first thing in almost two days. I'll finish the week now."

Defending champion Paul McGinley is three-over par after going one better than his first round with a 72.  Damien McGrane is 10-over after another 76.

At four under Stenson is one ahead of Lee Westwood after the Englishman's 70 left him as the sole custodian of second, one ahead of compatriots David Lynn, Luke Donald and Philip Archer, plus Australian Richard Green.