Padraig Harrington is still on track for a Charles Schwab Cup boost at the Constellation Furyk & Friends even though he lost ground after the second round in Jacksonville, Florida.
The 51-year-old is chasing down Order of Merit leader Steven Alker – who is not in action this week – and could take another significant step towards his goal of top spot with a win at Timuquana Country Club.
However, if Harrington is to do so then he will need to turn around a five-shot deficit as a second consecutive three-under 69 leaves him well adrift of leader Steve Stricker.
The Dubliner had enough birdies to mount a challenge, seven of them moving him up the leaderboard, but he also combined that with four bogeys which means he enters the final round in a share of sixth place.
He will need to go low to catch Stricker, who fired an eagle and six birdies in a bogey-free 64 – the lowest score of the day – that saw him post the low score at 11-under-par and open up a three shot advantage.
Canada’s Mike Weir and tournament host Jim Furyk are tied for second at eight-under-par after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively, while a superb 65 from Thongchai Jaidee has him alongside Lee Janzen at seven-under-par.
Meanwhile, Darren Clarke had another tough day in Jacksonville, backing up Friday’s 77 with a two-over 74 consisting of two birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey to fall back to seven-over-par and in a share of 72nd.
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