Padraig Harrington, already assured of a memorable week after his trip to the White House, put himself in position to make it even better at the Transitions Championship Friday. Harrington picked up a pair of bonus birdies over the last five holes for a 6-under 65, his low score of the year, and built a one-shot lead going into the weekend on the tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook. The Irishman has not won a sanctioned tournament since his PGA Championship victory at Oakland Hills at the end of 2008. Jim Furyk was atop the leaderboard with Harrington until missing a 6-foot par putt on the final hole. It wasn't enough to take away from an otherwise solid round of 68 to put him one shot behind. Also at 7-under 135 were Carl Pettersson (68); Bubba Watson, who missed a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole and had 65; and defending champion Retief Goosen after a 68. Steve Stricker played the final eight holes in even par and still shot a 66, putting him in the group two shots behind. David Toms had the best turnaround, an 8-under 63 that was 11 shots better than his opening round. Geoff Ogilvy, Lucas Glover and Trevor Immelman were among the 86 players who made the cut on the number at 2-over 144 Harrington spent so much of last year trying to find a swing key that he was rarely in contention until August. Oosthuizen going strong South African Louis Oosthuizen is primed to end a seven-year wait for a maiden European Tour win after storming two strokes clear of the field in the Hassan II Trophy third round Saturday. The 27-year-old compiled another 64 on the Red layout to finish on 20-under 198. He recorded 10 birdies and one bogey Saturday. Britain's Rhys Davies is also hoping to clinch his first win after a seven-birdie 68 left him second on 200. Frenchman Thomas Levet (68) is tied for third on 202 with South African Thomas Aiken (67).
