Harrington makes up ground on leader Molinari at Portugal Masters

VILAMOURA, Portugal (PA) -- Padraig Harrington reacted to one record being equaled by matching one of his own on Friday.

The three-time major winner was faced with the daunting prospect of making up 12 shots after Italian Francesco Molinari added a morning 66 to his opening 63 at the Portugal Masters.

Fifteen under par at halfway tied the lowest total of the European Tour season, but despite the wind picking up just as he resumed, Harrington reduced his deficit to only two with a spectacular 62.

The 38-year-old Dubliner even had a putt on the last to lower his all-time best round on the circuit, but on his own admission mishit it from 18 feet.

"Pity I didn't give it a better run," he said. "I played the tough holes really well and that gave me the opportunity to shoot a really good score. It could even have been the magic number."

Nobody has ever managed a 59 in Europe.

From a tie for 32nd place overnight -- his first thought was to make sure he made the cut -- Harrington goes into the weekend in third spot.

Such has been the birdie barrage so far, though, that there was a chance Molinari would not even stay out in front on his own.

He was joined later when South African Charl Schwartzel had a hat trick of birdies from the 15th, but then came a closing bogey for a second successive 65.

Molinari has an extra reason for wanting to shine this week -- to open the gap again between himself and his older brother Edoardo in the world rankings.

Edoardo, the 2005 U.S. Amateur champion, is at the top of the second tier Challenge Tour and has improved to 112th. Francesco is currently 70th.

"I need to play well or he will overtake me," said the 26-year-old. "I'm trying to keep up with him, but it is pretty difficult because he is either winning or finishing second every week."

After covering the back nine in 31 for the second day running and then adding another birdie at the second, the all-time Tour 36-hole record of 18 under was a possibility. But he played the remaining seven holes in level par.

Even though he felt uncomfortable with his putting, Harrington also turned in 31, but four successive birdies from the 14th turned it into a special round.

"I changed my putter, which put me off and I've not got my confidence back," he said. "I spotted I was doing something I don't normally do and that distracted the hell out of me. I'm also making a few mistakes here and there, but they didn't cost me today."

In the race for the Order of Merit title, meanwhile, Lee Westwood looks to have a real opportunity to overtake Rory McIlroy at the top.

A 67 left Westwood tied for sixth on 11 under, while putting problems restricted the 20-year-old McIlroy to a 70 and he is six strokes further back.

McIlroy then denied he has decided to join the PGA Tour next season, saying he was "80 percent sure" he would stick to Europe.

There was also a 70 from Justin Rose as he slipped back from second place to 11th. The 29-year-old blamed some of his waywardness off the tee on a stiff neck caused, he believed, by thin pillows.

The cut fell at 4 under, which also tied the European Tour low this season. European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie made it with only one shot to spare along with McIlroy after two bogeys in the last three holes.

Among those who crashed out were Ross Fisher, who could have led the Race to Dubai standings by winning, Graeme McDowell and Robert Karlsson.

The Swede, last year's No. 1, has now missed his first two cuts back after nearly four months out with an eye problem. He was four shots too many on level par, but did at least play his last nine holes in 31 to raise his hopes of better luck in Spain next week.

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