NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland — Three-times major champion Padraig Harrington boosted his hopes of qualifying for next month’s U.S. Open by moving to within a shot of the lead after two rounds of the Irish Open on Friday
Harrington, 43, went to seven under par with three birdies but dropped five shots over his closing eight holes for a 73 and a two-under par tally at Royal County Down.
It left Ireland's Harrington just a stroke behind clubhouse leaders Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger who both carded 67s.
Strong winds and intermittent showers again played havocwith the field and a number of former Irish Open winners and leading European players looked certain to miss the halfway cut.