Bookies Favourite is Still Harrington

Pádraig Harrington sets off in the third round firmly in contention for a second Irish Open title after another 67 at Royal Portrush on Friday. The Dubliner is best placed of the home contingent, two shots adrift of clubhouse leader Gregory Bourdy on 10 under.

The Frenchman, the joint-overnight leader with Jeev Milkha-Singh, shot a 67 himself but might have been better placed this evening had he maintained his early momentum this morning.

As it stood in the early evening, he held a one shot lead over England’s Mark Foster, while Harrington is joined by Italian Lorenzo Gagli a shot further back. India’s Milkha-Singh and Swede Mikael Lundberg were still in a position to make an impact on the frontrunners, with both nine under after 11 holes.

“I played well within myself, pretty solid all day,” said Harrington afterwards, but the three-time major winner admitted feeling unsure of his game at the moment despite a notable improvement in results of late. “I was putting for birdie most of the day and didn’t really put myself in trouble. It was as stress-free a 67 you can get in those conditions.”

He added: “I’m playing well, yes, but I know I could play a little better if I trusted it a little bit. I should be pretty confident going into the weekend but I’m not quite sure of myself.”

Harrington had just the one bogey, at the par-four fifth. He opened with consecutive birdies and added another at the eighth to turn in 34. Birdies at 10, 12 and 17 followed, before a narrow miss on the 18th green prevented him form picking up another.

A stunning back nine from local favourite Graeme McDowell saw him move to five under with a 68. The Northern Irishman came home in 32 with four birdies, after reaching the turn in a level par 36.

Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke both shot 69 to advance to five under and four under respectively, while Paul McGinley finished poorly with two bogeys in his final three holes to sit alongside McIlroy and McDowell after he signed for a 70.

Shane Lowry is on four under with Clarke after the former winner carded a four-under 68, while Simon Thornton put together his second consecutive 70 to join them.

McIlroy prevented a fifth missed cut in his last six starts on a course where he shot a record 61 as a 16-year-old and will know he is capable of climbing in contention over the weekend.

McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in attendance at the event after her Wimbledon first round defeat, said: “The last two days have probably been the best ball-striking rounds I’ve had for a while.

“I didn’t do much wrong and hopefully I can have a good weekend. I need something around 64 or 65 to get myself into contention, but I’ve shot low scores here before. I’m hitting a lot of greens and if I take a few more chances I can turn a 69 into 65 very quickly.”

Major winner Keegan Bradley’s first-ever tournament in Europe lasted only two days, but the American believes he is now better equipped for The Open at Royal Lytham in three weeks.

Just to make the cut was important for Clarke as he has not managed that all season, but after closing with a 20-foot birdie putt he insisted there was no sense of relief because his sights are set higher than that.

His British Open defence is less than three weeks away and after a month out resting a groin strain he said: “It’s important to have more competitive rounds under my belt. I’m just not tournament sharp.

“I started nicely today, but a bogey took the wind out of my sails and I couldn’t give myself many chances after that. Conditions are getting harder and that’s a good thing. Give these guys soft conditions and not that strong a wind and they will score low. But I’ve been surprised just how low it’s been so far.”

Keegan Values Short Portrush Lesson

Major winner Keegan Bradley's first-ever tournament in Europe lasted only two days, but the American believes he is now better equipped for The Open at Royal Lytham in three weeks.

The 26-year-old USPGA champion made the trip to the Irish Open at Royal Portrush because of his Irish roots, but had rounds of 73 and 71 to bow out on level par.

Bradley did have four birdies in a row from the 11th, however, and said: "That was fun. Wish I could have kept it going, but maybe next time.

"I think I will know a little more what to expect there.

"I played pretty well other than about three shots. I just didn't play the par fives really well and had a couple of lost balls - that's no good.

"I hope to come back another time - I can't wait. Everybody treated me so well."

Bradley's victory in Atlanta last August, after a play-off with compatriot Jason Dufner, came in the very first major of his career. Since 1913 he and Ben Curtis, the 2003 Open champion, are the only players to achieve that.

Others to miss the cut included Colin Montgomerie, last week's winner Danny Willett and former US Open champion Michael Campbell.

Willett's exit had a further implication than merely giving him a weekend off. He had a chance to earn an Open spot via a mini money list that ends on Sunday, but Thai Thongchai Jaidee and South African Richard Sterne are currently in position to claim the two places on offer.

Former Walker Cup player Willett, who finished three over, could still make it to Lytham with a top-five finish in either the French or Scottish Opens.

Irish PGA Pro Barrie Trainor

"Gave it a good go today was -4 for the front 9 and parred 10-12 and got hammered twice on 13 for a double bogey 6 and at that point they put up the board that -3 was the cut mark so I knew from then it was all over. Thanks to everyone for their support, thanks."

Barrie Trainor

Challengers Close on Leader Bourdy

France's Grégory Bourdy gave the chasing pack a boost when he failed to build on a brilliant start to his Irish Open second round at Royal Portrush.

Joint overnight lead with Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, Bourdy eagled the long second and after ten holes had reached 13 under par - three clear of the field.

But then came bogeys at the 11th and 14th, both par threes, and the 30 year old's advantage was back down to one.

Italian Lorenzo Gagli was in second place on ten under after a 66 and Welshman Jamie Donaldson just one further back following a 67 that contained five successive birdies.

Home favourites Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke both shot 69 to advance to five under and four under respectively.

For the World Number Two that prevented a fifth missed cut in his last six starts and on a course where he shot a record 61 as a 16 year old he knew he was capable of climbing in contention over the weekend.

Just to make the cut was important for Clarke - he has not managed that all season - but after closing with a 20 foot birdie putt he insisted there was no sense of relief because his sights are set higher than that.

His Open Championship defence is less than three weeks away and after a month out resting a groin strain he said: "It's important to have more competitive rounds under my belt - I'm just not tournament sharp.

"I started nicely today, but a bogey took the wind out of my sails and I couldn't give myself many chances after that.

"Conditions are getting harder and that's a good thing. Give these guys soft conditions and not that strong a wind and they will score low.

"But I've been surprised just how low it's been so far."

McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in attendance at the event after her Wimbledon first round defeat, said: "The last two days have probably been the best ball-striking rounds I've had for a while.

"I didn't do much wrong and hopefully I can have a good weekend. I need something around 64 or 65 to get myself into contention, but I've shot low scores here before.

"I'm hitting a lot of greens and if I take a few more chances I can turn a 69 into 65 very quickly."

McGinley Makes Fast Open Start

Paul McGinley made a great start to his second round at the Irish Open after an eagle and two birdies in his opening four holes moved him to seven under early on at Royal Portrush.

The Dubliner has shown a return to top form over recent weeks and after an opening round of three-under 69 he fired from the blocks this morning with an eagle three at the par-five 10th, his first hole.

A par at the short 11th was then followed by back to back birdies before the 45-year-old former Ryder Cup star dropped a shot on the par-three 14th known as Calamity Corner for a second day to move back to six under.

Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, the overnight joint leader, also flew from the traps with an eagle at the par-five second and a birdie at the short third to take the outright lead on 10 under.

Possibly buoyed by his country’s Euro 2012 semi-final success over Germany last night, Italian Lorenzo Gagli carded six birdies and a bogey in his opening nine holes to move to nine under lead.

Simon Thornton carded five birdies and a bogey in his first seven holes to move alongside McGinley on six under.

Gagli Goes Well and Clarke Inside Cut

Lorenzo Gagli produced a magnificent start to his second round at The Irish Open to join Grégory Bourdy in a share of the lead.

Having opened with a four under par 68, the Italian had seven birdies in his first 11 holes on returning to Royal Portrush and with only one bogey moved to ten under par.

Frenchman Bourdy only kept a share of the lead he enjoyed overnight with Jeev Milkha Singh by starting well himself – the three-time European Tour winner eagling the long second and birdieing the third.

Gagli’s run was all the more impressive given that after finishing 49th on The Race to Dubai in his rookie season last year, the 26 year old had not finished better than 35th this campaign.

Gagli and Bourdy led by two from Finn Mikko Ilonen and Scotland’s Gary Orr, with Singh amongst the later starters.

Meanwhile Rory McIlroy made just the start he was hoping for after resuming in joint 53rd place.

Birdies at two of his first three holes lifted the World Number Two, who has missed four of his last five halfway cuts, up into a tie for 21st on four under par.

This is McIlroy's final tournament before The Open Championship in three weeks and he was back on the course where he shot an amazing record 61 as a 16 year old.

Open Champion Darren Clarke boosted his hopes of making a first cut of the season when he also birdied the long tenth - his first of the day - to improve to two under and when he added a two on the short 14th he stood in a share of 34th place on three under. 

The top 65 and ties go through to the final 36 holes.

McIlroy bogeyed the short 14th, but had his third birdie of the day two holes later and turned in a two under 34 – by then six behind.

Clarke's third birdie came on the 15th, but after a back-nine 33 he bogeyed the first to be three under and joint 38th.

Clarke to Receive PGA Honour

Open champion Darren Clarke will receive the PGA Recognition Award at this December's annual PGA Luncheon in London.

The 43-year-old, unable to collect the award at the end of last season, follows in the footsteps of other Claret Jug winners Sir Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin and the late Seve Ballesteros.

"We had considered Darren for this award long before his Open triumph because he had already made an immense contribution to golf," said PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.

"His outstanding success in becoming Open champion meant his commitments prevented him from collecting the award last December, but we look forward to welcoming him as guest of honour at the lunch."

Bourdy Singh's at Royal Portrush

It was wet, it was windy, but nothing was going to stop fans turning out in huge numbers to see Grégory Bourdy and Jeev Milkha Singh shine at the first Irish Open in Northern Ireland since 1953.

Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, the three Major Champions whose success helped to bring the event back across the border, were always going to have the biggest galleries lining the fairways.

But while none of them was able to break 70 Indian Singh and France's Bourdy were certainly not complaining about the number following them as they set the pace - either side of a 95-minute storm delay - with seven under par 65s.

"The atmosphere and the feel to the golf course is fantastic," said the 40 year old Singh. "When you have so many people cheering and watching you I think you feel great."

England's Mark Foster, part of a group on 66 with compatriot Andrew Marshall, Australian Matthew Zions, Swede Oscar Floren, Finn Mikko Ilonen and Frenchman Edouard Dubois, commented: "It was just amazing out there.

"I got a six o'clock car to the course and, I kid you not, there were people queueing to get in - even though the rain was coming sideways.

"I've never seen a buzz in the players' lounge like there is this week. People are raving about the course and the size of the crowds."

It is the first time organisers put the "sold out" signs up for a regular European Tour event, with 27,000 tickets purchased for each day's play.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy Martin McGuinness were also in attendance to witness the scenes.

McDowell was the first of the three local heroes into action, but hitting a pitch into bushes for a double bogey seven on the 581 yard 17th - his eighth - took the wind out of his sails and he had to settle for a one under 71.

Clarke, yet to make his first halfway cut of the year and out for the past month with a groin strain, contented himself with matching that after a hat-trick of bogeys had left him two over after eight.

World Number Two McIlroy, meanwhile, reached four under, but three-putted the 16th and 18th in what he called "a sloppy finish" and signed for a 70.

Before the tournament Clarke had presented Singh with a bottle of 21 year old Bushmills single malt whisky, but he is keeping that until he can share it with his father Milkha - the "Flying Sikh" who lost out on an Olympic 400 metres medal in a photo-finish in 1960 and about whom a film is currently being made.

Singh, whose own dream is to represent India on the sport's return to the Games in 2016, is a real lover of links golf.

Not that anybody who witnessed his first experience of it would have guessed that - as a 16 year old in 1988 he competed in the Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, but had rounds of 87 and 84 there and at Pyle and Kenfig to miss out on the match play stages.

"I thought 'My God, this is tough'. I wasn't used to wearing raingear." He has got used to that now - and clearly improved.

Irishman Padraig Harrington, playing with McDowell and equally thrilled at seeing the tournament come north, pitched in from around 60 yards for birdie on his penultimate hole and with a 67 is firmly in the hunt.

Defending champion Simon Dyson, the third member of the group, matched that, while Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal and Scot Paul Lawrie - playing together for the third time in under two months - both shot 69.

Another former Open Champion, American John Daly, was in the first group out at 7.30am and returned a 71.

Asked if he was a good early riser he replied: "I am now. I get up when I used to get in!"

Much to everyone's relief, the event resumed in bright sunshine after the stoppage and the round was completed.

Bourdy did not finish until 8.40pm and would have been outright leader if he had birdied the long ninth, but he parred it.

“It was a lovely day, one of the best rounds I've played this year for sure,” he said. “It’s one of my best, maybe the best one I've ever played in my career on The European Tour. I played very solid. 

“It’s the first time I’ve played here this week and I love it. I played like this actually with Darren Clarke on Tuesday, so I think that helped me to play well today, because he gave me a lot advice. He was great with me. It was fantastic playing with the Open Champion, and a guy like him who plays every day on the course.”