Padraig Harrington, who just missed out on a Ryder Cup debut two years ago, has given himself the chance to make glorious amends this weekend.

The 27-year-old Dubliner shares the lead with European number one Colin Montgomerie at the halfway stage of the final qualifying event, the BMW International Open in Munich.

Harrington, second in the West of Ireland Classic last Sunday, needs a top-three finish this time to have a chance of ousting Swede Robert Karlsson from the 10th and last automatic place in Europe's line-up for Boston next month.

While Nick Faldo's hopes of a wild card receded with a 73 - he is now seven strokes adrift - Harrington responded to Montgomerie's morning 64 with a 67 and so also reached 36 holes on the 11-under-par total of 133.

Two years ago the former Walker Cup amateur, requiring a top-five finish then, opened 66-64 on the same course to lead by one but eventually came in ninth, missing a first cap by a mere two shots. "There is a helluva lot at stake, but pressure is what I put on myself and there's no more than there was last week," said Harrington.

"Two days of thunderstorms and a wash-out will do nicely (the two-round position would stand and he would be in), but I don't think I can hope for that and I think I am going to have to be prepared to do battle with Monty."

World number four Montgomerie is chasing his fifth victory of the season in Europe and does not have the added pressure of trying to make the Ryder Cup.

The pair are a stroke ahead of Welshman David Park, who managed only a level-par 72 today after equalling the course record of 62, and two in front of Australians Wayne Riley and Jarrod Moseley.

But the Ryder Cup permutations are not restricted to how Karlsson, only three under after a 71, and Harrington fare.

Midlander John Bickerton, who has to win, is only three behind along with two more Welsh players - Phil Price and Ian Woosnam, who believes that a top-two finish could put him into the wild-card frame.

Bernhard Langer and David Howell, needing third and second respectively, are only one further back and 11th-placed Scot Andrew Coltart, for whom eighth place could be good enough, is still in the picture at six under.

In fact the only two players to fall by the wayside by missing the cut were Italian Costantino Rocca and German Alex Cejka - and that means the "will he play or won't he?" question hanging over captain Mark James is still there. He stands five under.

Montgomerie wishes Harrington and the others well but admits that the number of new caps in Europe's line-up could be a cause for concern.

"Six is very high, especially when you think that their only one is David Duval," said the Scot.

"I don't think Mark will be looking for another for that last spot. I know what it's like and it's tougher in America."

Now, though, he is in a position to influence the outcome. After an opening 69 he burst through the field by going to the turn in 31 and added three more birdies coming home.

"If I stop other people qualifying then I can't help that. I've come here to win," said Montgomerie, who missed the cut last year and felt an obligation to fly back from America.

He does not underestimate the tension involved just in trying to make the side, although he has not experienced that himself.

Second in the points table in 1991, he has topped it ever since - just like he has the Order of Merit for the last six seasons.

"Whoever comes through has deserved it. I wouldn't like to be in this position," he said.

Of all the players hoping to be part of the Brookline side, Frenchman Jean Van de Velde can perhaps rest easiest. Ninth in the table, the Open runner-up is only three under but is still on course to make it with a bit to spare.

He could have made life even easier, though, by not coming home in 40.