Choi falters while Harrington soars

7/19/2008

Just days after an injured wrist had Padraig Harrington doubting his ability to defend The Open Championship, it seems his grip on the Claret Jug is tighter than ever.

The Irishman, who was two over par at the start of the day and three behind leader K J Choi, has maintained his score after nine holes to take a share of the lead with Jim Furyk, Greg Norman and Choi, who dropped three shots in his first nine holes.

A double bogey on the sixth did the bulk of the damage for the Korean, but a second dropped shot on the eighth has allowed the chasing pack to catch up. 

America's Furyk shot back-to-back birdies from the eighth to nullify bogeys on the fourth and sixth, while Greg Norman, who fell back to fourth on three over after three bogeys in seven holes, birdied the eight to go two over.

Tournament debutant Camilo Villegas, the Colombian who had finished his best-of-the-week 65 on Friday with a magical five successive birdies, is fifth on five over.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was in a share of sixth on six over, coming back from an opening three-putt double bogey six and bogey on the third with a birdie at the 346 yard fifth. Further dropped shots at the sixth and ninth have put him four over for the round.

England's Ian Poulter was making a determined bid to stay well in touch as well. After 12 holes he stood six over, giving him a share of seventh.

Fierce though the wind had been on Thursday the forecast even then was that Saturday afternoon would be worse and so it proved.

Leaderboard – Round 2:

1. K.J. Choi                     KOR  72 67 139 - 1
2. Greg Norman                 AUS  70 70 140  E
3. Camilo Villegas             COL  76 65 141 +1
4. Rocco Mediate               USA  69 73 142 +2
    Greame McDowell           NIR  69 73 142 +2
    Jim Furyk                      USA  71 71 142 +2
    Robert Allenby               AUS  69 73 142 +2
    Alexander Noren            SWE  72 70 142 +2
    Padraig Harrington          IRL  74 68 142 +2
    David Duval                   USA  73 69 142 +2

Source: European Tour