Hope springs eternal

GOLF: One thing a professional golfer never does is to give up hope, and Padraig Harrington is typical of that philosophy. The top-ranked player in the field, at number 12 in the world, has yet to fire on all cylinders, but, as he heads into the final two rounds six shots adrift of the leader, the Dubliner remarked: "All I am looking for is a spark."

Indeed, Harrington need look no further than last week's winner, Miles Tunnicliff, for some inspiration. He was also six shots behind at the 36-hole stage a week ago yet went on to win the Great North Open.

Yesterday, Harrington shot a three-under-par 68 for 139 that included four birdies and one bogey, at the 18th, where he put his intended lay-up approach shot into the water.

"I am not running up to the range to fix anything, it is a question of a couple of putts dropping and a little bit of confidence. I'm only a putt of a ball away from getting the spark I want. It could be one shot on the first hole and away you go," said Harrington. "Six back is not a hopeless situation."

Harrington's route into the final two rounds was a good deal more comfortable than a number of other Irish players who won the fight for survival. Darren Clarke was required to birdie his final hole, the 18th, to make it on the cut line.

"It's a typical Irish Open, another early morning Saturday start. I am hitting the ball the way I want to but I just can't score," said Clarke, who has taken 65 putts in the opening two rounds. "Mind you, something like 65-64 over the weekend could do something."

Clarke brought in Paul McGinley's regular caddie, JP Fitzgerald, to take over his bag-carrying duties after his regular carrier, Billy Foster, went home to England after his wife gave birth to their second baby.

Two players competing on sponsor's invitations also showed considerable pluck. Philip Walton had three birdies in his final six holes to turn his round around, shooting a 69 for two-under-par 140, while Graeme McDowell, making his first cut as a professional, had a 71 for a 141.

"I knew if I dropped a shot coming in I was in trouble," said McDowell, who finished with three straight pars. "But I am now in a great position to have a run at it. I've got the monkey off my back and made my first cut."