Golf:Pádraig Harrington may have missed out on the opportunity to hunt down an injured Tiger but that didn't stop the triple major winner focus both barrels on a new target after he moved to within two shots of the lead at the €3.8million Chevron World Challenge in California where he hopes to close out 2009 with a tour win.
With the exception of his Irish PGA win in July, Harrington hasn’t returned to the winner’s circle since August 2008 when he won the US PGA at Oakland Hills, and a win here at Tiger Woods’ tournament would do just nicely before he signs-off for Christmas.
The 38-year-old made a fast start at Sherwood Country Club with a trio of birdies in his opening three holes to get to six-under before the putter went cold and birdies dried up. He had to wait another 10 holes before his fourth birdie came with a 10-footer at 13.
His round became ragged towards the end and the world number five enjoyed a large slice of luck at the par five 16th when his pushed approach looked destined for the hazard before finishing behind a greenside bunker. Although a marshal called for quiet during his pitch he got up and down for birdie.
Harrington’s only dropped shot of the day came at the par-three 17th when a pulled iron found trees and failed to get up and down before he closed out the round with a par to sign for 68. At seven-under the Dubliner shares second alongside Kenny Perry (65) and Ian Poulter (69).
Graeme McDowell, who was a replacement for Woods in the 18-man field after the infamous car crash, is still in the hunt after a 69 left the 30-year-old four-under.
After reaching the turn in level par his round kicked into life at the start of the back nine with three birdies in the spin – including holing from the edge of the green at 12.
South Korea’s YE Yang, who denied Woods to win his first major at this year’s US PGA, matched Perry’s low round of the day 65 to lead on nine-under at the halfway stage.
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