Michael Campbell’s no frills 71 was enough to set the five-under par halfway target on day two of the Smurfit European Open while Padraig Harrington’s 69 left him with the ‘surprise’ joint low round of the day at the K-Club today.
"I’m surprised nobody has bettered 69, especially in the afternoon," said Harrington, who added "I’m delighted to be back in contention at three-under because it felt rather flat after my 72 yesterday."
The Dubliner saved his best shot of the day for last, a 40-yard bunker shot to the par five l8th, which he played ‘aggressively’ and then holed from six feet from behind the hole for birdie.
Although Harrington’s playing partners Niclas Fasth (77) and Justin Rose (81) faded badly at least they stayed for the duration of the round, not like Campbell’s partners.
"I had an incredible day out there, it actually put me off a little," explained the Kiwi after both Pierre Fulke and Philip Price retired with respective injuries to the wrist and neck. In the end American Fred Funk dropped back from his group to join the Campbell for the remaining eight holes. "I said to Fred thanks for joining me, I thought no one liked me on this Tour," he said after playing with three professionals in one day for the first time.
Of his round amid the distraction, Campbell said: "Today was a tough day and we played in a drizzle. It played long but the back nine wasn’t too bad as it cleared up." England’s Barry Lane (71) and Welshman Mark Pilkington (69) are ‘Cambo’s’ nearest challengers on four-under.
The defending champion Darren Clarke continues to make hard work of the greens. Today’s 70 brought him back on level terms but a broken putter when leaving the practice putting green last night bears testament to his mounting frustration.
Yesterday’s man of the moment John Dwyer safely made it into the weekend despite dropping back to join Clarke after today’s 75. "Still, I can relax now knowing that I achieved my initial goal of making the cut," explained the Ashbourne club pro who said he had to back and put a few hours in at the shop after his round. That’s dedication.
Eamonn Darcy, who finished tied sixth at Irish Open last week, sneaked in on three-over cut mark following his 72. It means the 49-year-old will have made the cut in the final two European Tour events of an illustrious pro-career that started back in 1968.
He will now focus his attention on the US Senior Tour when he goes to the qualifying in November after turning 50.
The sorry return of Paul McGinley from a two-week break didn’t get any better as the K-Club Touring Pro carded a 73 to finish six-over. "My swing has gone, I’m losing balls left and right and that’s the worst situation. I can be neither competitive nor confident because of that," said McGinley who is determined to play through ‘his longest career blip’. It was a disappointing day for two of the big international stars who dropped in at the Kildare venue. Australian Greg Norman, playing with McGinley, was annoyed with his 76 which dropped him back to one-over while Germany’s Bernhard Langer missed the cut by one after today’s 75. Retief Goosen was much steadier with a 72 leaving the South African on one-under.
Gary Murphy was the fifth and final Irish qualifier of the 13 who began their challenges yesterday. The Kilkenny golfer added a 73 to yesterday’s 72, qualifying easily on one-over.
Credit must be given to the set-up of the 2006 Ryder Cup venue because the low scoring that was expected when the afternoon sunshine emerged failed to materialise. It was a surprise to Harrington, it may even have been to Campbell, but you could little will surprise the Kiwi after the commotion he had to endure today.
Irish Qualifiers
3 under- Padraig Harrington (69)
Level- Darren Clarke (70), John Dwyer (75)
1 overGary Murphy (73)
3 over - Eamonn Darcy (72)
Non-Qualifiers
4 over- Graeme McDowell (73)
6 over- Paul McGinley (73), Philip Walton (76), Michael Hoey (75)
7 over- John Dignam (75)
17 over- David Wallker (80)
14 overDes Smyth (79)
DISQRonan Rafferty