Rejuvenated Harrington shares lead at Scottish Open
Golf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Ireland's Padraig Harrington during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
LONDON (Reuters) - Ireland's Padraig Harrington, German Alexander Knappe and England's Callum Shinkwin shared the lead on nine under par after two rounds of the Scottish Open at Dundonald Links on Friday.
The 45-year-old Harrington had feared his career could be over after suffering an elbow injury last month, but the world number 169 continued to roll back the years with a round of 68 ahead of next week's British Open at Royal Birkdale.
The three-times major champion successfully defended his Open title there in 2008, the last time the tournament was played at the venue.
Golf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy looks dejected on the 18th hole during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
World number four Rory McIlroy, who had missed the cut at two of his three previous events, did so again after a 71.
Having picked up three shots on the outward nine, the Northern Irishman suffered a double-bogey at the 13th and ended up one over par, two short of the cut mark.
Knappe, who shot a second-round 65, and Shinkwin improved their prospects of earning one of the three spots in the Open which are still up for grabs.
Golf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Ireland's Padraig Harrington during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Finland’s Mikko Ilonen, who held a two-shot lead overnight, dropped down the field after shooting a two-over-par 74, leaving him four behind the leaders.
The top three were one stroke clear of Briton Ian Poulter and Australian Andrew Dodt, with Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, world number 10 Rickie Fowler and Gregory Havret of France a further shot behind.
Golf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in action during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
(Reporting by Steve Tongue, editing by Ed Osmond)
Golf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Ireland's Padraig Harrington with his caddie during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithGolf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Ireland's Padraig Harrington in action during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithGolf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in action during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithGolf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Ireland's Padraig Harrington during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithGolf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithGolf - European Tour - Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open - Ayrshire, Britain - July 14, 2017 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in action during the second round Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
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