Padraig Harrington lamented an "opportunity missed" after blowing a good start to squander the outright lead in the second round of the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan.
The Dubliner had been at his best in firing a six-under 66 on the opening day, when he played out a flawless round in squalid conditions over the Ta Shee course, having a birdie putt on all 18 holes.
And he looked to be straight back into the groove this morning when, having been out shortly after 7 a.m. from the 10th tee, he picked up a birdie two at the 11th and then moved into the lead on his own with a 35-foot birdie at the next.
The 31-year-old, seeking to gain an early lead in the Order of Merit in what is the first event of the 2003 European Tour, then stretched his lead to two with a 25-foot putt for birdie on the 15th.
But after turning in 33, Harrington bogeyed the first and then, after holing an eight-footer for birdie at the third, disappointingly dropped back to eight-under with a bogey on the ninth, his last.
Afterwards last year's money list runner-up blamed a lack of sharpness for his performance.
He said: "I started well, but my concentration wasn't good today. I should have done better as I was swinging the club fine. Some days it's like that. I wasn't in it today.
"I should have been a few better. It's an opportunity missed."
Harrington's time alone at the top of the leaderboard was short-lived, with talented South African Trevor Immelman putting together a late burst of birdies to join him on eight-under.
Maarten Lafeber, who after his 66 yesterday stormed past both Harrington and Immelman with two birdies and an eagle at the 14th, his fifth, to go two clear on 10-under with nine still to play.
The morning was marred by news of the death of John Daly's mother Lou from lung cancer.
Daly learnt about the death during his opening round of 70 yesterday but decided to carry on, in accordance with his mother's wishes.
PA