IRISH OPEN RELATED STORIES Irish Open Preview Round 1: Four share opening round lead Round 2: Harrington moves into lead with 68 Round 3: Harrington increases lead to three Round 4: Padraig Harrington becomes first Irish winner for 25 years Irish Open Scores 2007 European Tour Schedule GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Hanson claims a one stroke win Pettersson wins on his local course Funk wins first senior major title Hull snatches maiden LPGA win Tiger Woods won't swing a club till 2009 Michelle Wie defends herself again GREAT GIFTS FOR GOLFERS Golf Breaks to Portugal & Ireland Half Price Golf Vouchers InstructaCard - your portable pro! The Father & Son Golf Ch'ship Golf Insurance

Padraig Harrington moves into the lead with round of 68

Padraig Harrington shot a 4-under 68 Friday in gusty wind for a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Irish Open.

At 3-under 141, Harrington led Joakim Backstrom (71), Simon Wakefield (72) and Andres Romero (74).

Harrington had five birdies and one bogey to move past four overnight leaders, boosting his chances of becoming the first Irishman to win the tournament since John O'Leary in 1982.

On Thursday, Romero shared the lead at 4-under with Peter Gustafsson, who shot a second-round 75, Peter Hanson (78) and Simon Dyson (78).

Only 11 players broke par at the Adare Manor near Limerick, with most struggling in wind of up to 40 mph. Officials moved some tees up to cut the course length 76 yards to 7,131 yards.

"The wind doesn't bother me," Harrington said. "So I know I have an advantage in that sort of weather."

Harrington said he's motivated to win this tournament.

"This is my national Open," Harrington said. "It means a lot to me. I know I want to win this very badly."

Three players pulled out with back injuries -- Notah Begay, Ian Woosnam and Anton Haig. Mikko Ilonen withdrew with a wrist injury, and three more did not complete their rounds.