Harrington in contention
Padraig Harrington
Sunday March 14 2010
Padraig Harrington is right in the thick of things with a round to go at the WGC-CA Championship in Miami.
Ireland's three-time major winner, whose last Tour title was the US PGA 19 months ago, moved into a tie for the lead before three-putting the last for his only bogey of the day.
A five under par 67 leaves Harrington 11 under par, one behind South Africans Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel in the race for a first prize of over £925,000.
Els, one in front of Australian Robert Allenby at halfway, had a chance to establish a firm grip on the event, but missed from four feet at the 13th and three feet on the 16th.
He returned a 70, while 25-year-old Schwartzel - twice a winner in his home country already this year - matched Harrington's round.
Allenby is in fourth place two back, while German Martin Kaymer (66) and England's Paul Casey (68) are not out of the running at eight under and seven under respectively.
Casey was given extra motivation afterwards when told about television commentator Johnny Miller calling him "the biggest under-achiever in golf."
Second and fourth in his last two events - and three times a winner last season before tearing a rib muscle - Casey could go second in the world with victory.
"I feel I'm coming into the prime of my career," he said. "I've gone through ups and downs and I'm just coming off an injury."
Kaymer, Europe's best putter last season, showed American golf fans what he was capable of, needing only 22 putts in his best-of-the-day effort. Already a winner in Abu Dhabi this season, he is currently eighth in the world, but relatively unknown in the States.
