AN ENDORSEMENT from Tiger Woods can usually be costed in millions of dollars, but as Pádraig Harrington cruised into the clubhouse lead at Firestone Country Club last night, he didn’t need the approval of the world number one to know he is on the right path.

The Dubliner followed his spectacular opening 64 with a one-under-par 69 and headed off to the cinema with his young family to conserve energy for what will be an intense nine days, culminating in the presentation of the Wanamaker Trophy tomorrow week.

“I’m obviously happy. I shot a good score yesterday that’s giving me a great chance at the tournament,” he said. “You know, anything under 70 from here on in is going forward, so I’m quite pleased to have shot 69.

“Even though you can shoot a low score, to do it two, three days in a row or four days in a row wasn’t going to happen. I’ll take two more times at 70 on the weekend and we’ll see how we get on.”

Laying his hands on his first World Golf Championship and cradling the Gary Player Cup is at the top of Harrington’s agenda right now after a conservative but ultimately rewarding performance left him at the business end of a major tournament for the first time since he finished tied second behind Jeev Milkha Singh in last November’s Singapore Open.

But being second-guessed about the work he has done on his swing has not affected Harrington in the slightest, though Woods said he found it frustrating when he was constantly asked about the two major swing changes he has gone through in his career.

“Thankfully nobody told me that, or if they were saying that, I wasn’t listening,” Harrington said after a round that featured birdies at the par-five second and par-four 13th holes and a bogey off a bad drive at the tough eighth.

“If I did (hear them saying I’m wrong), I’d fight against it. That’s my nature. I’d be the very stubborn one who if I was told to do something, I’d want to do it my way.

“Ultimately, that’s part of it. That’s part of my nature. I want to do it my way. That’s what’s got me here, that’s what will keep me going forward. You know, I’m not interested in standing still.”

Woods, who carded a level 70 to go into the weekend five strokes adrift of Harrington on two under, paid tribute to his rival’s work ethic and single-mindedness in the face of public criticism of his swing changes.

“Paddy has always done things according to his own accord,” Woods said.

“He’s worked extremely hard. You know that with Bob, all the countless hours and bad weather they used to practise in to get better.

“We’ve all admired him for that, because I don’t know how many second-place finishes he had, but he didn’t really win that much.

“But then he kept progressing and kept getting better and better and more consistent, and then all of a sudden, boom, he’s a three-time major championship winner.”

Recalling Harrington’s Houdini style recoveries from impossible situations when they were paired together in the US Open in June, Woods said: “I just remember him at the US Open making some of the most unbelievable pars on the second day. He’s stuck with what he’s doing. You have to believe in what you’re doing, absolutely. And you have to believe in what you’re doing is right, even though people tell you what you’re doing is wrong.

“I’ve been through that twice, and I think I’ve turned out on the good side both times. It’s just that you’re going to get a lot of bombardment, not just from the media but from fans, from friends, family, whatever it may be, they’re going to always doubt and question you.

“But you’ve got to have the internal resolve to stick with what you believe is going to be right and you’re going to get better.”

The PGA of America revealed last night that Harrington and Woods will see each other next week when they join 2002 US PGA champion Rich Beem for the first two rounds at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.

It will be the third time they have been paired together over the first two rounds this season following the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and the US Open at Bethpage.

Graeme McDowell will partner Robert Allenby and Dustin Johnson while Rory McIlroy has been paired with Jim Furyk and Martin Kaymer. Darren Clarke drew Charles Howell and Ryan Benzel.

Clarke birdied the 16th and 17th yesterday to be on one over par after a level 70.

McDowell birdied the last for a 71 yesterday to slip to four over for the tournament with Rory McIlroy a shot back after a 70.

Irish Open champion Shane Lowry continued his baptism of fire on his American debut when he shot his second 78 for a 16-over-par total.

With Paul Casey withdrawing on Thursday, Lowry is 78th of the 79 players will in the field with Japan’s Yuji Igarashi dead last on 17-over after an 83 yesterday.

Leaderboard

(Completed rounds)

133(7 under)

Pádraig Harrington(Ire) 64 69

134(6 under)

Tim Clark(Rsa) 66 68

135(5 under)

Scott Verplank(US) 66 69

136(4 under)

Prayad Marksaeng(Tai) 66 70

Steve Stricker(US) 67 69

J erry Kelly(US)71 65