A penalty stroke on the 15th green didn’t help Padraig Harrington's cause at the Masters on Friday.
The 37-year-old's major experience stood to him as he kept plugging away during his second round to end up carding a one-over-par 73.
On a breezy unsettled day that was unsettling for the players, Harrington started at 1.41 pm, as unfavorable a tee time as could be given the swirling wind that blew around Augusta National Friday.
Harrington had a difficult first nine with three bogeys on 1,7 and 9 with just one birdie on 3 to get one shot back.
But the back nine showed Harrington’s strong backbone. Three pars at 10, 11 and 12 were followed by a huge eagle at 13 to get him back to level for the round and three-under-par at for the tournament.
Par on 14 was followed by a mini drama on 15. An excellent third shot to the elevated green left Harrington with a five-footer for birdie.
However, on the 15th green the wind was so strong that it moved Harrington’s ball as he was lining up to take the putt.
Harrington stood back and called in the referee, who judged that the Dubliner was in the “address position” to hit the ball, and therefore would incur a one stroke penalty, turning a birdie putt into a par putt
Harrington smiled wryly and duly holed the putt to leave the 15th musing over what might have been.
A par on 16 was followed by a bogey on 17. On the last Harrington looked like he might get a shot back when his birdie putt looked destined for the hole. However, the putt horseshoed around the cup and Harrington had to settle for a par to end up with 73.
The triple major winner had a couple of unlucky breaks in the last few holes, but at two-under-par for the tournament, he is well placed ahead of the weekend's play.
Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry co-lead the tournament in the clubhouse at nine-under-par.
Tiger Woods shot a level par 72 to leave him two-under-par for the tournament.
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