Padraig Harrington was not about to allow ‘intimidating’ greens get the better of him as he snatched seven birdies, including four in succession, on day two of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Europe’s Ryder Cup captain made it two halfway cuts from as many new season events thanks to a second round 69 for a four-under halfway tally at the Emirates club in Dubai.
Scottish lefty Robert MacIntyre, who played alongside Harrington last week in Abu Dhabi, put himself into contention for a second Tour victory, and in only five events, with a bogey-free 68 and muscle his way to a share of second place at nine-under par.
MacIntyre had held the clubhouse lead till very late in the day before being overtaken by Belgium’s Thomas Detry posting a 68 to lead by a shot at 10-under par.
Padraig Harrington declared he was not about to be intimidated by Dubai greens.
New British No. 1 Tyrrell superbly turned around a horror first round 76 for last week’s Abu Dhabi winner to regroup with an eagle and six birdies in a 64 to get back to four-under and tied with Harrington.
Harrington had his own horror show in making a mess chipping into the first green and walking off with a double-bogey ‘6’ before seeing the lighting-fast holes more like a bucket to sink four birdies in a row from the second.
He dropped a shot at the sixth for a second day but got the shot back at the next and then birdied 13, bogeyed 15 and picked-up a birdie on 17 for his 69 and heading to the weekend sharing 23rd spot.
“It was good to birdie four in a row there at the start but it’s been strange as I have been playing well but not as well this week, but I’m putting well,” he said.
“The greens are tough though I’ve got a good attitude on the greens, and I’ve really rolled the ball really well and it was nice to see a few dropped today, as I did make seven birdies, so that’s nice to happen.
“Overall, I am just happy every putt was running at the hole but as I said, these are incredibly quick and incredibly intimidating greens at the moment.
“So, to have made so many birdies on the greens as they are at present was really nice.
“The only thing that was poor was my chipping as evident in taking three chips at the first to take double from nowhere while a couple of other chips were poor, so if I can get rid of those mistakes, I should have a better weekend.”
Fellow Open Champion Shane Lowry will join Harrington over the weekend adding a level par 72 to his opening 70 to be two shots back at two-under par.
Not so good for Graeme McDowell now heading to next week’s Saudi International defence missing a second new season cut in succession with scores of 76 and 73.
McDowell managed just five birdies but doubled that number over the two rounds in bogeys.
