Padraig Harrington sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the last to survive the halfway cut in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club.

Just six Irishman made the weekend action as Darren Clarke stormed into a share of the lead on nine under.

The Ulsterman carded a four under par 68 to join Welshman Phillip Price at the top.

Alistair Forsyth of Scotland and South African teenager Charl Schwartzel, who carded a course record 64, finished a shot further back on eight under.

But it was Harrington's final hole heroics that captured the hearts of the massive crowd at the home hole.

With the cut set to fall at two over, Harrington needed to birdie the 537 yard 18th to make the weekend.

Despite bunkering his drive, he splashed out 101 yards from the pin, firing a wedge to 25 feet and then sank a snaking 25-foot downhill putt from the fringe to the biggest roar of the afternoon.

Harrington beamed: "It was a nice putt to hole. I didn't think two over would be good enough after I bogeyed the 17th hole.

"I was trying to cut the corner to give myself the best chance on the 18th of making eagle. When I hit it in the bunker I thought, that's it, I'm not making the cut. But my caddie told me that two over should make it so I went for it.

"Holing a putt like that going down a green with 18 inches of break is a lottery. It only had to hit the middle of the hole and in she went like a rabbit into a hole."

Harrington carded a second successive 73 that included six bogeys and five birdies, and he admitted that and 11-shot deficit is too much to make up on the leaders.

He confessed: "I don't think I can win from here. I am just looking forward to two rounds of golf. Even two 66s are not going to be good enough for me."

Harrington is hoping to finish in time to make it to Croke Park for Dublin's All Ireland qualifier with Armagh this afternoon (4.15).

But he may have to hitch a ride with Paul McGinley who will have a helicopter on stand-by to whisk him to Dublin if he finishes on time.

The world number eight headed straight for the practice ground after his round to try and sharpen up his game in the run up to the Open in two week's time.

He said: "I have to pay more attention to my short game. I'm swinging the club better than I have ever swung it but I haven't focussed enough on my mental game. This week bears it out that I can be swinging the club really well but not performing.

"Today I played much better than my score. Every time a hit a bad shot it was a dropped shot. Other days you get away with that.

"A lot of the bogeys were by getting stuffed off average tee shots - up the face of a bunker or behind a tree. The couple of tee shots I missed left me done.

"After a break for two weeks I didn't want another two days off. I wanted to be out playing golf. My game will get better on the golf course rather than the range.

"I missed few short putts today. I'm not very focussed or trusting the lines but I'm swinging the club well but I'm not performing.

Reluctant Ryder Cup hero Price carded a three under par 69 to share the lead with Clarke.

But the Welshman admitted that he is fed up with the hype surrounding his win over Phil Mickelson at the Belfry.

He said: "At the Wales Open it started to get ridiculous. I bit the head of a guy on the practice range. I've always tried to be polite but it was getting to the stage when you can't get on with your job."

Overnight leader Forsyth hit a two under par 70 to finish on eight under, where he was joined by 18-year-old rookie Schwartzel late in the afternoon.

The South African had six birdies and an eagle in his record round in his first full season as a professional.

Last year he finished 16 shots behind Louis Oosthuizen in the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin. He went on to win the Brabazon Trophy and then become the second youngest player to win a European Tour card a the Qualifying School.

Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy are the next best of the Irish on two under par with Damien McGrane and McGinley on one over.

McDowell carded a one over par 73 as Murphy finished with a double bogey seven at the par five 18th for a disappointing 75.

McDowell said: "I've been driving the ball really good today but my iron play wasn't good. I wasn't in control of my swing.

"But I still think I can win. I think two 65s would do the trick. That's certainly not out of the question."

Needing a birdie at the last to finish on five under, Murphy was in two bunkers before three putting for a seven that left him cold.

He said: "I felt great at the last. I just thought I would hammer a drive down there and make four.

"You can't take seven on that hole, that's criminal. My mother wouldn't do that but such is life."

McGrane finished with a level par 72 to make the cut with a shot to spare but Peter Lawrie double bogeyed the 16th to miss the cut out by two with rest of the Irish well off the pace.

Poor Philip Walton lost a ball up a tree at the ninth, took a double bogey six and finished on six over after a 76.

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© Brian Keogh 2003

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