Padraig Harrington boosted hopes of qualifying for the season-ending DP – World Tour Championship with 72nd Race to Dubai ranked Dubliner adding a second straight 72 to remain at level par on day two of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.
The triple Major winning Harrington also arrived in Shanghai a lowly 105th on the World Rankings and unconcerned by all the media fuss in dropping outside the top-100 for a first time in some 14 years.
Harrington playing out of rough at the 8th hole but saying it’s not big deal being outside top-100 on World Rankings. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“It’s not a big deal dropping out of the top-100 and besides some good results will easily turn that around,” he said.
“But I have to say I am looking forward to my winter break as my decision-making hasn’t been brilliant this season and I just feel like I’ve been a little over-golfed.
“However in saying that I do want to qualify for Dubai though I have to say I was in bed at 5.30 last night and slept through to 7am and that was nothing to do with any jet lag as it was exactly the opposite.”
Also on level par is Graeme McDowell who dropped three shots over his last five holes in a 74.
“It was a bit iffy and a bit squiffy but to level par after two rounds and coming back after a five-week break is not too bad, and besides I’m only four behind second and with the weekend to play, so bring it on,” he said.
Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley birdied his opening three holes in an eventual round of 71 to be at four over par while fellow Irishman Shane Lowry had a similar score to be a shot further back on five over par.
