In the gathering gloom, much of the good work was undone. The uphill 15th is not a hole to be messed with and, for Pádraig Harrington, it proved costly: a loose tee-shot into the thick right rough, followed by a flier that somehow airmailed the green.
The Dubliner waited for a reaction. Anything. No applause, nothing. And it was only when he walked up to the green that he found it nestled under a dangling branch of a pine tree. He looked, time and time again at his options before deciding that there was only one; a penalty drop.
The chip looked good, almost dipped into the cup, but ran four feet by. Then, the siren sounded. The choice? To putt, or not to putt? He decided to putt. He missed. A double bogey six. Just like that!
Harrington’s work was done, for now, that double bogey moving him to one-over for the round (plus-four for the championship) with three holes of his second round to go and five behind the lead. It was a disappointing finish to what had been a well-constructed round, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth which got him within two shots of the lead.
The damage wasn’t terminal to Harrington’s cause but, still, there was a feeling he deserved more out of the round than the 15th delivered and he was left to sleep with a sour taste and in the knowledge that the round would be completed early Saturday.
As he moved off the 15th tee and headed for the portaloo, a huge roar erupted from the 18th grandstands to greet Phil Mickelson’s closing birdie. Lefty’s final salvo was a birdie to sign for a 72 which left him in a share of the clubhouse lead with fellow-American Billy Horschel on 139, one-under-par.
Mickelson and Horschel claimed a one-shot lead over the chasing group of Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Steve Stricker – all safely in the clubhouse on 140 – with Ian Poulter and amateur Cheng-tsung Pan, who had to finish off their second rounds.
Like Harrington, Waterford amateur Kevin Phlelan’s last act was to tap in for a double-bogey. In his case, Phelan doubled the Par 3 ninth and was on six-over, with some work to do if he was to remain inside the cut line which was predicted to fall at eight-over.
Mickelson saved the best until last as he salvaged his round with a closing birdie, his only one in a round that also featured three bogeys. Quite cleverly, Mickelson – aware that the sound of the siren wasn’t too far away – had a word with Dustin Johnson in the group ahead to allow one of his threeball to hit a tee shot.
Keegan Bradley performed the honours, and the upshot was they were able to go on and complete the round without the need for an early-morning wake-up call.
“I just like being in the mix,” said Mickelson. “I think it’s fun having a chance heading into the weekend. The way I have control off the tee and as good as the putter is, I’m very excited about the opportunity.”
Rose, for his part, was upbeat after getting into the mix.
“The job of the first two rounds is to get yourself in striking distance, and (the third round) is an important day to hang around and give yourself a chance on Sunday . . . . this kind of golf course you don’t know what to expect.
“So I don’t think you’re safe until you’ve carded your score here. You can be four or five under going into the last few holes. You don’t know how the round is going to pan out, so you have to stay focused,” said Rose.
There were 68 players left to complete their rounds when the siren sounded to suspend play due to fading light.
