Padraig Harrington played patiently on a course that is becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate to take a one-shot lead in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational second round on Friday. Bidding for his first victory of the year on any of the leading tours, the Irishman followed his opening 64 with a one-under-par 69 on a tree-lined layout running fast and firm. Two ahead of the chasing pack overnight, Harrington mixed two birdies with a sole bogey to post a seven-under total of 133 in the final World Golf Championships (WGC) event of the season. South African Tim Clark was alone in second after carding a 68 at Firestone Country Club with US Ryder Cup player Scott Verplank (69) a further stroke back at five under. World number one Tiger Woods, seeking his fifth PGA Tour victory of the year and a record seventh title at Firestone, was five strokes off the pace after returning a 70. Harrington, competing in his first tournament since the British Open three weeks ago, was delighted to maintain control after covering the back nine in one-under 34. “I'm obviously happy,” the 37-year-old Dubliner said. “I shot a good score yesterday that's given me a great chance at the tournament. Anything under 70 from here on in is going forward so I'm quite pleased to have shot 69. Even though you can shoot a low score, to do it two, three or four days in a row wasn't going to happen. “You'd like to make some birdies but you're always aware that you don't want to drop shots,” Harrington said of his more cautious approach for the second round. That definitely showed up in my play today. There were times when I was a little bit conservative and it was good in one sense; I only short-sided myself once today.” Harrington's only blemish came at the par-four eighth where he struck a tree with his drive and then pulled his approach well left, leaving himself very little green to work with to salvage his par. His third shot ran 45 feet past the pin from where he two-putted for bogey. Woods, fresh from his victory at the Buick Open on Sunday, remained at two under overall after a round featuring two birdies and two bogeys.
