If Padraig Harrington is to end a six-year winless drought in capturing a third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship then he will do so with a putter he painted himself.
In yet another bizarre chapter in the make-up of the three-time Major winner Harrington revealed he is using a new putter sporting a white face he painted ahead of the recent KLM Open.
So far the new ‘paint job’ has worked with Harrington sharing second place with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry at eight under par and just a stroke behind Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (70), who heads the event on nine under par.
Jacquelin and Harrington were at Kingbarns while Lowry was on the Old Course at St. Andrews and with the Irish signing also for rounds of 70.
“I had this putter the week I played in Switzerland but I struggled in the sunlight as the black face of the putter was shining in my eyes,” said Harrington.
Shane Lowry shares second place heading to the final two rounds of the 2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
“So as I use the face of the putter to line up my putts, I wasn’t able to see it at times.
“Then in getting to Holland I went into the Wilson equipment truck and we painted the face of the putter white.
“But then we had to wait 24 hours to ascertain if it was within the rules and it was.”
Lowry also edged nearer not only to a third Tour success but with a top-five showing at least this week sure to see him break into the top-50 on the World Rankings for a first time of his career and a first Masters invitation.
And after the inspiration of watching Europe storm to victory in the Ryder Cup, the Clara golfer is primed for a double celebration.
“I was very confident coming into this week after having a nice week off enjoying watching every shot in the Ryder Cup, so I was looking forward to this event for a while,” said Lowry.
“All I am trying to do is put myself into a position going into Sunday that I can attack the leader, whoever he is, or if it’s me, I can push on.”
Rory McIlroy seemed to have shaken off the last of any lingering Ryder Cup victory hangover moving inside the top-20 with a five under par 67 and a four under total.
The four-time Major winner continued to struggle early on day two to be one over par through six holes, including taking a drop from gorse bushes at his fifth, before he capped his round by holing a 15-foot putt for eagle at the seventh and then birdie the next.
In fact, McIlroy had been two over par for 24 holes and played the next dozen in six under.
“The eagle on 16 or my seventh hole kick-started something for me and I just went from there and started seeing a few more putts roll in,” he said.
“That gave me a little bit more confidence and looking at the leader board I am only five shots behind with two rounds to play.
“We now head to St. Andrews for the last two rounds so I’ve played well there before and if we do win the tournament it will be a nice 55th birthday present on Sunday for my dad.”
