PARIS -- Rafa Echenique of Argentina leads the Alstom French Open by two strokes after shooting a 4-under 67 in the second round.

Echenique reached 10-under 132 on Friday to sit ahead of a trio that included overnight leader Martin Kaymer of Germany, who shot a 72 after tying the course record with a 62 on Thursday.

Charles Schwartzel of South Africa (66) and Steve Webster of England (65) were also two strokes back.

Echenique bogeyed his opening hole but recovered with an eagle and four birdies on his front nine. He was runner-up at the BMW International Open in Munich last week by a shot after he carded a rare double-eagle2 o the par-5 closing hole in Munich.

Peter Hanson of Sweden was tied for fifth place with Richard Green of Australia on 135.

Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington's nightmare run of missed cuts went to five -- just as many as Tiger Woods has failed to make in his entire 13-year professional career.

With his British Open three-peat bid less than two weeks away, Harrington's fate was effectively sealed when he drove out of bounds and ran up a triple-bogey 8 at the 14th hole of his second round at Le Golf National.

The Dubliner, who finished with a 75 for 5 over par, freely conceded on Wednesday that he was running out of time to get his game in good enough shape to triumph again at Turnberry. Now he has only next week's Irish PGA championship to find a bit of competitive confidence before heading to Scotland.

Harrington, who last played four rounds of an event at the Players Championship in Florida in early May, said it was more his putting than his 8 that troubled him.

"I was never comfortable on the greens all week," said Harrington, who felt his three-putt bogey at the 13th to drop to two over was the crucial mistake. "I'm hoping that's all it was. I just struggled -- just putted terribly and didn't get any confidence. That's reflected in the score.

"It showed up the weakness in my putting. I've been happy with it and still am physically, but it certainly got on top of me this week and that's where the focus will be," he added. "You don't just click, but I have another week. The last six months the focus has been on my swing and definitely now I will be firmly focused on my previous strength - a good, sharp short game.

"I'm not worried about how hard they set up Turnberry. I will be more worried about how I am -- but I can manage any challenge."

Webster shot his best-of-the-day 65 a week after spending five hours in the hospital. He was helping his father when a loft door hit him in the left eye.

"I was worried quite a lot at first because it cut inside my eye," said Webster, who missed last week's event in Germany following the incident. "I had to have X-rays first and then stitches. The doctor told me 'Lay on the bed and don't move -- I'm just going to put two needles in your eye.'

"I had a black eye for a few days, but I was lucky really," he added. "I told him to make me a better putter while he was at it and he seems to have done a good job!"

Former European Tour player Gary Evans was also given some of the credit, however, after making a couple of suggestions.

"He was a great putter and if I putt well I can shoot low. It's a nice feeling when you hit it to 15 feet and feel you have a chance of making it."

Echenique was thrilled to continue his fine play of late.

"I've had a good three weeks and you have to enjoy the moment," he said. "I received lots of emails and calls after what happened on Sunday, but I always try to keep on the same level."

His biggest problem was bloodshot eyes caused by an allergy.

Lee Westwood is only four back in a tie for seventh, but last year's runner-up Colin Montgomerie -- without a top-10 finish since then -- triple-bogeyed the final hole and only just survived the cut.

Masters champion Angel Cabrera went out on 3 over, but Irish Open amateur winner Shane Lowry made his first cut as a professional in his fourth attempt. There was a scare first, however. He had the wrong time on his mobile and made it to the first tee with only 10 seconds to spare.

A two-shot penalty or even disqualification could have followed if he had missed his start time, but as it was he shot a 72 for 1 under and made it through with two shots to spare.

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