• Transitions Championship, Day Two

Harrington the halfway leader in Florida

ESPN staff
March 19, 2010
Padraig Harrington belives he is close to his best form © Getty Images
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Padraig Harrington celebrated his return to the world's top ten by carding a six-under 65 to take the outright clubhouse lead after two rounds at the Transitions Championship in Florida.

In his first tournament since the third-place finish at the WGC-CA Championship that propelled him up the rankings, Harrington again showed signs that fluency was returning to his game at the Copperhead course.

The world No. 10 required a scant 24 putts as he recorded his lowest Tour round of 2010, his unerring accuracy on the greens compensating for his occasionally wayward iron shots from the fairway.

After his round, Harrington talked up his chances of victory. "I'm capable of winning in the form I'm in," he said. "Am I in my best form? No. Am I getting there? Yes."

He leads by one stroke from a four-strong group that includes last year's winner Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson.

At six-under, world No. 2 Steve Stricker trails that pack by one stroke after shooting 14 places up the leaderboard on day two. Stricker looked every inch the highest-ranked player in the tournament as he carded a five-under 66 that featured six birdies on the first 11 holes.

Luke Donald salvaged several errant tee shots with some exemplary approach work during a solid round of 68 that leaves him three-under. The Englishman found birdies hard to come by, picking up just three in a bogey-free card. His compatriot Ross Fisher is faring one stroke better at the halfway point.

Justin Rose holed three birdies on the back nine to move into negative territory for the first time, his 68 taking him to one-under.

First round leader Garrett Willis had a disastrous day, with three double bogeys contributing to a six-over 77 that reserved all his good work and left him back where he started at even par.

David Toms struck the lowest round of the competition so far after shooting a 63. Afterwards, Toms made no secret of his delight: "I hadn't had a low one for a while, and I needed one for my psyche as much as anything else. I went out there determined to play good. Hopefully it will kick start my year."

Sergio Garcia scraped in to make the two-over cut, but Ian Poulter wasn't so lucky after a second 73 left him four-over after 36 holes. It was a round to forget for world No. 6 Poulter, who found the water at the par-three 13th.

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