Dufner takes lead at Transitions

Associated Press

PALM HARBOR, FLA.

Jason Dufner and Padraig Harrington felt cautious at times for different reasons Friday in the Transitions Championship. They also had a far different outcome.

Harrington was 12 shots worse than his course-record 61 in the opening round.

Dufner, trying to play more conservatively when he doesn’t feel confident about attacking, made it through another round at Innisbrook without a bogey and posted a second straight 5-under 66 to take a two-shot lead into the weekend.

“Pretty stress-free round,” Dufner said.

Harrington didn’t feel as though he hit the ball much worse in a round of 73. He realized it would be difficult to back up his record score on the Copperhead course with another low score, and it crept into his putting, especially on the back nine.

“I’m happy with my game, but when you shoot a good score, it’s hard to match the next day,” Harrington said. “When you’re leading the tournament, it’s hard not to be a little bit cautious, and I think at times I was on the greens.”

William McGirt had a 68 and joined Harrington at 8-under 134.

Luke Donald, who can return to No. 1 in the world with a win, had a 68 and was in the large group at 7-under 135 that included Puerto Rico winner George McNeill.

Harrington was still leading when he hit weak putts, all of them for birdie from inside 15 feet, on three straight holes. It caught up with him on the sixth, when he marked his ball but failed to go through his routine and wound up missing a 15-inch par putt. Then, he three-putted the seventh hole and suddenly found himself two shots behind.

The good news — at least before he was picked for a drug test — was that Harrington was still in the mix.

“I didn’t do too much damage today,” Harrington said. “It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if I didn’t have those two three-putts. It could be OK. But the great thing is, having shot a good score yesterday, I felt that if I played the best golf on the weekend, I would be the winner. I’m still in good position.”

Harrington figured he would either post another good score and have a chance to run away from the field, or get an ordinary score and have to work hard on the weekend. It turned out to be the latter. Twelve players were separated by four shots.