WALES OPEN LEADERBOARD - SECOND ROUND GB & Irl unless indicated
-13 S Strange (Aus) -9 B Barnham, R Dinwiddie, JM Singh (Ind), A Velasco (Spa) -8 R Echenique (Arg), R Jacquelin (Fr), R Karlsson (Swe), R McGowan, E Molinari (Ita)
Selected others: -6 N Dougherty -5 C Montgomerie, -4 D Clarke, -1 R McIlroy

Harrington has not missed a cut in Europe for 19 months

Padraig Harrington will miss his first halfway cut in Europe for 19 months on the Wales Open's new Ryder Cup course.

The Open champion shot a second-round 74 at The Celtic Manor to slump to two over par and Harrington and bows out with Bradley Dredge and Oliver Wilson.

Harrington said: "I don't like missing any cuts - it's pride - but it will make me more disciplined."

Australian Scott Strange leads the chasing pack by four shots with Robert Karlsson one shot further back.

But star attraction Harrington's departure is the big shock as the Irishman was the pre-tournament favourite for this year's crown and £300,000 first prize.

Harrington, the world number 12, chose this event rather than last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth so he could build towards the US Open in a fortnight's time.

But the Irishman, whose last missed cut in Europe was at the Mallorca Open in October 2006, is still seeking his first victory since Carnoustie last July.

606: DEBATE Who will go on to win the Celtic Manor Wales Open?

Harrington was in trouble from the moment he double-bogeyed the 413-yard 13th, his fourth of the day.

The Ryder Cup star also bogeyed the first and after birdies on two of the next three could not save par on either the 452-yard sixth or 439-yard eighth.

"I putted abominably," he admitted. "It was a day of some poor decisions, but it just convinces me to be more committed."

And Strange as it may seem but surprise overnight leader Scott has extended his advantage by enjoying a round of 66 while Europe's top star Harrington crashed with a round to forget of three over.

Strange is certainly the unexpected leader but his challenge now is to remain there with some experienced players preparing to hunt him down.

Englishmen Robert Dinwiddie and Benn Barham shot rounds of 65 and 64 to be help make up the four-man chasing pack alongside Jeev Milkha Singh and late finisher Alvaro Velasco.

The 2006 Wales Open winner Karlsson, five shots off the lead, is Strange's most ominous threat as the big-hitting Swede has the power and the know-how to win at The Celtic Manor.

Karlsson is one of five players sitting poised on eight under.

Ryder Cup heroes Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke both rallied on day two in Newport as they both just dropped one shot in encouraging rounds of 68 to leave them at five under and four under respectively.

The home charge has somewhat faded and the best-placed Welshman are Kyron Sullivan and Jamie Donaldson who are nine shots behind Strange on four under.

Dredge and Stephen Dodd, Wales' two World Cup winners in 2005, both made disappointing early exits in their home tournament while reigning champion Richard Sterne and Ryder Cup player Paul McGinley also followed them home.

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