McIlroy heeds Harrington's advice

GOLF DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP:RORY McILROY will take inspiration from double British Open champion Pádraig Harrington as he attempts to win his first European Tour title in the Dunhill Links Championship.

McIlroy looked set to break his duck in the European Masters at the start of last month, taking a four-shot lead into the final round, only to eventually lose out to Jean-Francois Lucquin in a play-off.

But the 19-year-old from Holywood, Co Down, is on course to have another chance this weekend after a hugely impressive second round of 69 at Carnoustie - where he finished as leading amateur in the British Open last year - left him just one shot off the lead. He was the only man to shoot in the 60s over the brutally difficult Angus links.

Austria's Markus Brier shrugged off the bitterly cold conditions to return a 70 at St Andrews and lead on eight under par, one ahead of McIlroy, Germany's Martin Kaymer and Ryder Cup team-mates Soren Hansen and Robert Karlsson.

Brier later revealed the secret of playing in the cold. "The trick is to do a bit more warm-up in the morning to get the body moving. And you have to keep warm on the course and have the gloves out after every shot.

"Today I also had a big partner, Schalk Burger, so I can shelter behind him a bit."

McIlroy, who would have been the third-youngest winner in tour history in Switzerland and could be the fourth-youngest on Sunday, said: "Pádraig called me over on Wednesday and said 'hard luck' and that he knew how it felt, we've all blown tournaments that we should have won.

"He's been second on tour 29 times and learnt how to win. He hasn't had a second place for three years. He told me to keep getting experience, get yourself up there again and you'll win. The more you are there the more you will learn and you'll close it out."

McIlroy finished second here last year in just his second event since turning professional, and earned enough money to secure his European Tour card for 2008.

"I'm doing as well as last year, I would love to repeat that finish and even go better," the former European amateur champion said.

"I need to get into position first to have a chance to do that. If I do I'm sure my recent experience in Switzerland will help me.

"It didn't quite happen for me then, but I'm playing well again this week and I've probably got the easiest course of the three tomorrow. I know the top guys are having to come here to Carnoustie so if I can go out at Kingsbarns and do well I could be right up there."

Harrington himself finished with a birdie at the last hole in St Andrews to return a one-under par 71, and leave himself nicely in position on six under par, just two off the lead.

Harrington heads the money list by €230,000 from Lee Westwood, who would have been almost €130,000 closer if he had beaten Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a play-off for the British Masters at The Belfry last Sunday.

Karlsson is third in the standings, another €130,000 adrift, but with €555,000 on offer for the winner at St Andrews tomorrow evening, the race to win the Harry Vardon Trophy and end the year as European number one is still very much on.

Westwood is alongside Harrington on six under par after his 70 at St Andrews, while Karlsson maintained his challenge with a two-under-par 70, also at St Andrews, to leave him on seven under par overnight.

Peter Lawrie and Graeme McDowell were the only other Irish players under par.

Dubliner Lawrie's one under par round at Kingsbarns left him on three under, while McDowell's three over par round at St Andrews leaves him on one under overall.

Damien McGrane is two over par after yesterday's round of 74 at Kingsbarns. Darren Clarke is a shot further back after his two-over outing at St Andrews, while Paul McGinley's 75 at St Andrews leaves him on four over par, one better than Kilkenny's Gary Murphy, who also returned a 75 at St Andrews.

In the pro-am event running alongside the professionals' more serious business, Boyzone singer Ronan Keating and Graeme Storm lead on 16 under par, one shot clear of Ian Botham and his partner, David Howell.