Harrington and Woods keep leaders in sight

GOLF US TOUR:SEAN O'HAIR may have opened up a three-shot lead at the € 4.3million Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill resort but Pádraig Harrington and playing partner Tiger Woods are within striking distance - and the Dubliner is simply glad to have put himself in a position to contend in the build up to next month's Masters.

Harrington is bidding to win his third major in a row at Augusta - and fourth overall - but preparations to date have not gone according to plan with two missed cuts on the PGA Tour and a first round exit at the Accenture World Matchplay.

However, yesterday’s second round of 68 in Orlando, Florida went some way to right those previous wrongs for the British Open and US PGA champion.

Playing alongside the world number one in the showpiece group enabled Harrington to feel the buzz of tournament golf again, something he says he needs before teeing it up at Augusta.

“Its been a good situation for me the last two days, having a bit more hype about and a bit more going on,” said the 37-year-old after his two-under round left him six shots off O’Hair’s eight-under 132 lead.

“I’m in the tournament as well and that’s the sort of position I need. I don’t win tournaments out of the blue. I need to be in that position, feeling that sort of tension for me to go and win the next time.

“I do need to be getting that feeling if I want to be there at the Masters, that’s for sure,” he added.

Harrington outscored his playing partner Woods (69) by one shot, but the five-time champion is one better than the Dubliner at three-under despite being disappointed with his ball-striking.

“I played decent today,” said Woods. “I didn’t hit the ball as well as I’d like but I kind of grinded my way along and had two chip-ins which was nice.”

Harrington signed off on a sour note when he three-putted the ninth, his 18th, for a bogey. “It’s always good to shoot two under around here but I am disappointed, three-putting the last and missing three short birdie putts in the last six holes,” he said.

“Things like that happen at times but I’m still happy with the score.”

Harrington knows his game isn’t the finished article just now but he is content that it’s moving in the right direction in time for the first major of the year which is just two weeks away.

“It could be better. It’s a work in progress. But I’m kind of happy enough with what I’m working on and where I’m going. ”

Graeme McDowell’s birdie at the 18th for a one-under 69 meant the 29-year-old was back to level par for the tournament heading into the weekend.

After an opening bogey at the second the Portrush pro picked up back-to-back birdies at the fifth and six. His only other dropped shot came at the 16th.

O’Hair’s round was laced with six birdies as the American opened up a four shot led at one point. However, like Harrington, he dropped his only shot of the day at the ninth, his 18th, for a round of 65 to be three ahead of first leader Jason Gore, who shot 70.