Harrington closes in on leader Price European Tour

Despite dropping two shots on the homeward run, Padraig Harrington is just one shot off the pace set by Phillip Price of Wales at the halfway mark in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Last season's European Tour Order of Merit winner Harrington made a superb start as he shot five birdies on his opening nine holes and looked set to build a solid lead at the top of the leaderboard.

However, two bogeys - at the fifth and ninth on his back nine - meant he carded a five-under-par 67 for a nine-under-par 135 overall.

"If you offered me five under before going out I would have definitely taken it," he said.

"I'm always disappointed to finish with a bogey but nine under par after two rounds, if you had offered me that I would have taken your hand off. I can't complain about being in this position going into the weekend."

Price admitted his relief after he surpassed numerous big-name players, including Harrington, to top the leaderboard.

The 40-year-old Welshman has not topped a tournament for nearly four years but yesterday he carded an impressive seven-under-par 65 to move one shot clear of Harrington on 134.

Price teed off in the morning and with the likes of Retief Goosen, Nick Dougherty and Henrik Stenson not starting until the afternoon, it seemed his time at the top would be short-lived.

But the trio all endured a disappointing round on the Abu Dhabi Golf Course By Sheraton to leave Price in a solid position for the final two rounds.

He said: "The last time I led was when I won the Smurfit European Open in 2003 at The K Club. I can't think of another time.

"I finished third in Madrid and that gave me a massive boost to play well. I had not done that all year."

Price rejoined the European Tour circuit in 2006 after a less-than-successful spell on the USPGA Tour the previous season.

The Newport man did not do well enough to retain his card and as a consequence he returned to the UK.

He added: "It probably felt like I did all of the groundwork and then didn't get a chance to reap the rewards because I lost my card.

"I knew it was going to be difficult just going across with two suitcases and not knowing where I was going to be the following weeks.

"We didn't buy a house until the middle of the year so I wasn't settled until probably July, which was probably too late by then.

"It felt like a lot of work and I didn't get to see if it was going to be fruitful for me."

Overnight leader Phillip Archer suffered a disappointing day as he made par on his first nine holes and endured a worse run coming home, carding three bogeys and making par on the rest for a three-over-par 75.

He is six under overall alongside Dougherty, who could only make par yesterday after carding two birdies and two bogeys.

Defending champion Chris DiMarco is three shots behind them after he carded a two-under-par 70, and is joined by Paul Casey after the Englishman produced a solid four-under 68. Colin Montgomerie is one shot behind the pair with a four-under-par 140.

Shiv Kapur, the 24-year-old from New Delhi, shot 66 in the second round for the second year running. But whereas the talented young Indian finished 45th in 2006, he has designs on the title this time around. Kapur made his score on the front nine, turning in 31 with five birdies, but was unable to convert the birdie opportunities on the homeward trip of 35.

Like Price, a change of coach has worked wonders for Kapur. He has turned to American-based Australian coach, Peter Murphy and explained: "He came over for the Indian Open and I felt I needed to sort out my swing. I saw him for four or five days in Dallas over Christmas and it made some changes. They seem to be working."

Of the other Irish in the field Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy are on four-under-par 140 after both shot 68s yesterday.

Graeme McDowell shot a level par 72 for a one-under-par total of 143 and qualify on the limit for the weekend. However, Peter Lawrie missed out after a 73 left him one outside the cut on 144.