Red-hot Padraig Harrington is on course to grab his first major title.

The 30-year-old Dubliner carded a fantastic 67 at Muirfield to move into a share of the lead with Ernie Els and Shigeki Maruyama on six under par.

No Irishman has won a Major since Fred Daly won the Open by a shot at Royal Liverpool in 1947.

Christy O'Connor Senior, Harry Bradshaw, Eamonn Darcy, Christy O'Connor Jnr, David Feherty, Des Smyth and Darren Clarke have all come close.

But now Harrington looks like Ireland's best bet after a round of great guts and composure.

It was a late-late show from Harrington who was one of the late starters yesterday.

Two off the lead starting the day, he surged up the leaderboard with a hat-trick of birdies from the second to get within a shot of the lead.

He bogeyed the eighth and 11th but bounced back each time with birdies at the ninth and 11th to keep his challenge alive.

Then world number 10 hit the green in two at the 546 yard 17th and two-putted from 40 feet for his sixth birdie of the day to tie for the lead.

Said Harrington: "There is only half of the tournament gone but I am happy where I am. I could be a few shots better off but I'm not too disappointed.

"I've been in this position before and I feel I have learnt from that. I was in the last group in the US Open on Saturday this year and I led the Masters after 27 holes. What I do over the weekend who knows.

"I'm not nervous, off the course anyway. I sleep sound as a bell at night. Let's see what happens."

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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