January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Harrington, Furyk in dead heat
Shellshocked Masters champion Trevor Immelman conceded he now had 'no chance' of victory after a horrific day with the putter saw him collapse to six-over-par, eight shots off the lead at close.
And Irishman Harrington, level with Jim Furyk on two-under at the halfway stage, admitted that he could have suffered a similar fate were it not for his supreme putting.
"I'm sure if Trevor putted like me today, he would have shot my score and I would have shot his," he said.
"You know, I worked hard to keep myself in contention. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I'm happy that I kept myself in the tournament. It would have been easy enough for me to have a day like Trevor and be struggling tomorrow."
As it was Harrington negotiated the contoured greens better than his rivals to finish two-under tied with Jim Furyk and two shots ahead of Retief Goosen, with Immelman trailing in their wake.
The 37-year-old said growing up on windswept Irish courses with fast, undulating greens had prepped him for the conditions at the Mid Ocean and helped him prosper where others struggled.
"I went out there today and saw the wind and the conditions and thought that was an advantage to me."
It was far from a perfect round for the Irishman and he looked in real trouble when he shanked his tee-shot into the hibiscus bushes on the eighth for a double-bogey that left him at the back of the elite four-man field.
But he hung in there, saving par on numerous occasions with puts that his rivals were missing all day. And then he took advantage in the closing stages with birdies on 16 and 18 to go out in front.
All four champions struggled with the pace of the greens and the challenging placement of the pins as 25-knot gusts intensified the challenge of this short but tricky course.
The only saving grace for those with aspirations of returning next year was the announcement this morning that the remodeled Port Royal course will host this event in 2009 and 2010.
For now the major champions must negotiate the Mid Ocean course.
And while Harrington's putter saved him from the abyss, Furyk prospered by making fewer mistakes than his competitors.
But the affable American, whose round included three birdies and a superb eagle at the 11th, admitted it would probably come down to a shoot-out with the putter tomorrow.
"Paddy and I probably did the best job of holing some putts, and I think that's the reason why we are in the position we are in.
"I'm going to try to attack the golf course the same way tomorrow, go out there and have fun and not get too wrapped up in how the other guys are playing.
"First and foremost I want to put the ball in the fairway and give myself a chance with the irons. If I can put the ball in the fairway, then really, it will be about putting."
Retief Goosen, who played the shot of the day at the fifth chipping from a green-side bunker to within a foot of the pin to save par, is still in with a shout after an even round.
But he admitted he would have to do better on the greens to challenge the leaders.
"It was pretty quiet out there. There were a couple of birdies but I'm not sure if the spectators enjoyed us whacking from everywhere. It wasn't good.
"The greens are tricky. It's very difficult to get the right placement.
"Hopefully tomorrow I won't make as many mistakes and maybe give myself more chances and make some putts."
One man who is not holding out much hope for day two is US Masters champ Trevor Immelman.
"Not much to say. I hit a couple squiggly shots which cost me and obviously didn't make any putts, so it made for a long day."
Asked if he still had a hope of winning the South African laughed.
"No. That's just honest. What am I, eight back?
"Obviously these guys are playing well. I just have to go try and go out there and play a better round tomorrow." n
Leaderboard
Harrington (68) -2
Furyk (68) -2
Goosen (70) E
Immelman (76) +2
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