Harrington takes lead into weekend

Despite a late double-bogey, Padraig Harrington remained on track in the Benson and Hedges International Open on Friday to make amends for a costly aberration three years ago.

The Irishman was disqualified in 2000 just before the final round when five strokes ahead for failing to sign his first-round card.

On Friday, he dropped two shots on the eighth, his 17th of the second round, but still compiled a four-under-par 68 to move into a two-shot lead on nine-under-par 135 -- two ahead of defending champion Angel Cabrera.

Spain's Jose Manuel Lara and Britons Paul Casey and Jamie Elson hold third place on four-under. Overnight leader David Dixon slumped to a 78, nine shots off the lead.

A spectacular five-wood approach by Harrington to three feet on his 12th hole put him six-under for the day and in line for a course record 64 but he then hooked into water on the eighth.

"I'd hit two balls into the water there in the pro-am and yesterday I hit way right to avoid that, so today I didn't want to go right and I toe-hooked the ball," said Harrington.

"I hit a bad iron shot on the 12th as well but I'm not going to worry about two bad shots."

Despite his good play on Friday, the world number 10, part of the Ryder Cup-winning European team at The Belfry last year, has decided to miss Europe's flagship event, the Volvo PGA Championship, in 13 days time.

"Wentworth is a course for ultra straight hitters like Monty (Colin Montgomerie) and Michael Campbell who are always in the top five; I'm always in the top 50, if that.

"It beats me up. All I do is sit checking whether I'm going to make the cut, thinking my whole game is falling apart (and) maybe the best thing I can do is to give it a break for a year."

Cabrera, who said he also felt unsure of his swing, thought he could retain his title.

"I still like my chances but I didn't play the back nine well," the Argentine said. "So I'm off to the range to try to stand a little further away from the ball and swing slower, something I've been talking to my coach about."

Last year's European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, added an 82 to his first round 80, while Spain's Seve Ballesteros finished at 12 over for both to miss the cut.

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