Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was disappointed after his round despite posting a second straight 69 in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
Harrington was in the middle of the fairway on three of the par fives but failed to score a ‘4’ on either.
Waiting for Harrington after a second straight 69 were two persons pivotal in success next week at Royal Lytham and St. Annes – mind expect, Dr. Bob Rotella and fitness coach, Dave Aldred.
However Rotella had an appointment with Paul Casey who missed the cut with a pair of 76s whereas Aldred was unsure if he would be spending post round time with Harrington.
Shane Lowry looking to secure British Open tee time. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
Harrington had five birdies in his round but also two bogeys.
“There’s not much I can say only that I am getting out of the week what I expected to get,” he said.
“My only concern today was that I didn’t birdie any of the par fives as I was on the fairway for three of the four, so that was disappointing.
“So that’s at least three shots I’m giving away to the field, and it’s as simple as that.
“I am happy to be six shots behind but then if I was four shots better, I would be right in there.”
Meantime fellow Irish Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie will now fight it out to try and join Harrington in next week’s Open.
Lowry and Lawrie carded second day 69s to head to the weekend rounds at Castle Stuart at nine under par and just three from the lead.
Sweden’s Alex Noren (66) and Italy’s Francesco Molinari (70) share the lead at 12-under par and one clear of the duo of Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez (64) and Italian teen Matteo Manassero (64) at 11-under par.
Lowry and Lawrie will need to finish in front of Noren, Manassero and Gonzalez if he’s to secure a place into next week’s British Open.
Lowry’s round included six birdies, among them three to start his round, but also a 16th hole double where his par putt lipped out and he then three-putted.
“I was very disappointed to take the double as I hadn’t hit a bad shot up to there and it came from nowhere, and I lipped out for a par and three putted,” he said.
“But I am still only three shots off the lead and if someone had offered me that before I teed off yesterday I would have bitten their hand off.
“I got off to a good start making three birdies and play well with three more around the turn.
“But I am very much in the mix going to the weekend and that suits me fine.”
Lawrie also birdied three holes early in his round but paid a price for 14th and 16th hole bogeys.
“I got off to a nice start with three steady pars and three birdies so it felt all good,” he said.
“I managed to birdie my eighth and 11th holes but then got caught in the whispy grass at the fifth, my 14th second shot and made bogey there, and then made a silly bogey two holes later in trying to be too cautious.
“But in general, and all in all, nine under par is not too bad.
“Once again, the work I did this week with Brendan has paid off as I had the club too far behind me and underneath and my left shoulder was going to high, so we worked hard on that.
“Despite the couple of bogeys there on the back nine, I’m in a pretty good position and I certainly would have been happy with nine under after two days teeing up yesterday.
“It was a good three-ball as Ricardo (Gonzalez) and myself sought of fed off each other all day.
“I’m now looking forward to the weekend as I’m excited about trying to clinch that one remaining British Open spot.
“It wasn’t really in my mind at the start of the week but it’s right in the forefront now, and it would fabulous if I could grab that spot.
“Maybe I can do what Marcel (Siem) did last week, and if a Welshman can win the Irish Open, a German the French Open, I can’t see why an Irishman can win the Scottish.”
