Harrington grateful for last chance to pip Goosen

There is no escape at the Volvo Masters. However badly any of the competitors are faring – and around such a severe course as Valderrama it is not difficult to rack up scores of 14 over par for two rounds – no halfway cut exists to put the stragglers out of their misery. That everyone is guaranteed a cheque tomorrow cushions the hardship, but Padraig Harrington was just grateful still to be in a position to tee up for the last two rounds.

Having crashed to eight over par, Harrington would normally be checking in at the nearest airport. Instead, the Irishman has 36 more holes to try to overhaul Retief Goosen, the only man who stands ahead of him at the top of the order of merit.

As disastrous as Harrington's form might appear, Goosen himself again struggled in the second round. Harrington had a 76 but Goosen a 74, including a double bogey for the second day running, and the South African currently leads his challenger by just three strokes.

It goes without saying that both are well out of contention for the tournament itself. Angel Cabrera almost ran away with the event when he was seven strokes clear at 10 under par but he slipped back, particularly with a double bogey at the 17th when his third shot spun off the green into the water.

A 72, following his 63 of Thursday, left the Argentinean at seven under, four shots ahead of Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Bradley Dredge and Robert Karlsson.

As Harrington trails Goosen by £14,500 on the money list, he needs to finish ahead of Goosen and no worse than 27th, which would only be enough if Goosen comes last. Harrington lies 48th at the half-way stage.

"There is a general lack of confidence creeping into my game," Harrington said. "But it can always change tomorrow. It is still realistic to get under par by Sunday night. It would help if I was more sure of my game. I am certainly not feeling tense or nervous but I am maybe a bit conscious of what I'm doing."

Harrington said a week ago that the last thing he wanted was for Goosen to be able to play poorly here and still win the Vardon Trophy. So far, the scenario is evolving into reality. "I am hitting the ball terrible," said Goosen. "I went through the US Open and that's a lot worse than trying to win the order of merit so there is no extra pressure."

Montgomerie is a past master at securing the order of merit here and knows the stresses each man is under. "Goosen is the favourite at this stage," Montgomerie said. "Harrington has to pull out two of the best rounds of his year to do this now. The three shots is not the problem, it's the £15,000."

Although a big hitter is leading, the 6,845-yard cork tree-lined course cannot be overpowered. "Cabrera hits it amazingly straight for someone who hits it so long," said the Scot.

"But this is a very difficult course to attack. It's not the longest course but you have to figure it out. It plays into my hands. My course management skills come out on this course more than any other."

Having not won for around 15 months, Montgomerie, with rounds of 70 and 69, was purring with satisfaction with his two days work. "I like this," he said. "This is great." It was his form at the German Masters, just before the Ryder Cup, which helped boost his form.

"I only dropped three shots all week, which was good. Then I went to the Ryder Cup and did okay. Well, bloody well, actually. Now I am looking forward to this. I am really fired up."

Justin Rose would have joined the share of second place had he not hit a bogey at the last. The young Englishman's 69 put him on two under and he said: "I was surprised to see my name on the leaderboard. I guess it is a tricky course that everybody has to stay patient on."

Rose may have benefited from playing alongside one of the great thinkers, Bernhard Langer, who had a 71. "I was joking in the locker room that I was going to follow whatever Bernhard hits off the tee. He makes very few mistakes."

Scores, Digest, page 11