Harrington squeaks into weekend in Texas

Padraig Harrington, putting in the Byron Nelson Championship, is becoming more comfotable with the anchored stroke by the day. photo: kenneth e.dennis / kendennisphoto.com) www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington dodged a bullet in Texas when he made a three-putt bogey at the last but made the cut on the number after a nervous wait at the Byron Belson Championship.

The triple major winner got into the red early but then triple bogeyed the 12th after finding trouble left and the bogeyed 14th and 15th to soar to four over.

But he sooned warmed to the task with his belly putter and finished up taking just 28 putts, including that careless three putt from 30 ft at the last.

A 31 footer dropped at the 18th and he then birdied the second from five feet and the sixth, seventh and eighth before closing with a bogey at the ninth, where he missed a five footer for par.

A long afternoon’s wait followed but Harrington eventually made the weekend on the level par mark and now has two rounds to find some confidence and form.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Keegan Badly added a 69 to his opening 60 to lead by two strokes from Tom Gillis (63) and Korea’s Sang Moon Bae (66)  on 11 under.