Local boy Verplank makes good in heat

GOLF:The sadistic joke in these parts is that it is so hot that when a player steps out of the locker-room his shadow decides to stay inside. Not quite true, of course, but the 89th US PGA at Southern Hills - which reached the halfway point stage with US Ryder Cup player Scott Verplank leading on 136, four under par - has re-enforced the conviction that the six inches between a player's ears is the most important distance of all.

Yesterday, again, the heat was excessive as players sought to avoid sweaty hands, to stay in the shade and to mount a challenge for what is known as Glory's Last Shot.

And, for the most part, those who manoeuvred a way into contention were those who demonstrated patience, used good course management to avoid disasters and, mostly, availed of the birdie opportunities that presented themselves.

Verplank, well acquainted with the furnace conditions as a graduate of Oklahoma State University, did all of these things better than anyone in moving to assume the clubhouse lead.

When reminded of the trend of past major winners at this venue, that whoever held the 36-hole lead went on to win, he quipped: "I didn't know that, I hope it's really rock solid . . . but I'll just be happy to play as good as I did the last two days."

Verplank has been around long enough not to lose the run of himself; especially on a golf course that, Padraig Harrington for one, believes offers the chance for someone to make a charge. While Paul McGinley assumed the role of chief Irish challenger in the championship, producing, like Verplank, a fine second round 66 that improved his opening effort by eight shots and enabled the Dubliner to move into contention, Harrington was content to assume the role of playing catch-up on those ahead of him.

Harrington had a scrappy 73, that left him on 142 and six shots adrift of Verplank. He hit only 11 greens in regulation, astonishingly finishing up in greenside bunkers on the seven occasions with approach shots. Out of seven attempts, he made five sand saves for par.

It was an indication of how hard he had to battle for what he got.

"My focus was not good. Need to work a bit more on getting into my focus and not worrying too much about it. I need to work on that and to play better golf over the weekend. I've got to go lower, I know that," he said.

Intriguingly, when Harrington claimed his maiden major at Carnoustie last month, he opened up with rounds of 69 and 73. Guess what? He's done the same here at Southern Hills.

The reality, though, is that he needs to produce better over the weekend.

"I know I have got to play good golf to win the tournament from here. I'm in that situation that I have got to go out there and put two rounds together over the next two days.

"If I'd shot 69 today I'd know that I could probably get away with playing good golf one day and scrambling the other. In any given tournament you play well two days a week, you'll play poorly one day and you'll play average the other. That's normally how it is going to go.

"Today was probably, hopefully, my poor day. If I'm going to win this, today was my poor day, yesterday was my average day and I need to get it going and have two good ones over the weekend."

Sometimes, there is a lot to be said for chasing, rather than having to have the pressure of leading a major from the front. Harrington, too, knows this. But he also knows which option he'd prefer, and it is not the one that he faces going into the final two rounds.

"I know where I stand and what needs to be better tomorrow and on Sunday. I actually play better golf when I am chasing. But I'd rather be in the lead and take my chances. I do play better golf.

"Who knows which is better to do? I'd rather have the lead and get the job done than play good golf and come second."

Like it or not, Harrington - just as he was at Carnoustie - is in the position of pursuer. He is not alone. But at least he has recent memory on his side to know that it may not be a futile chase.