BBC SPORT | Golf | US Open | Harrington so focused

Padraig Harrington's said his ability to keep his head while those around him were losing theirs was the key to his tremendous second round at the US Open.

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The Irishman managed to concentrate despite the torrential rain at a rain-sodden Bethpage Black to post a two-under-par 68.

It was a fine round, and especially notable seeing as it was one of only three under-par scores on a day when most players were scuppered by the conditions.

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Only tournament leader Tiger Woods (68) and Japan's Shigeki Maruyama (67) were able to break par.

Harrington, said: "It was a good day to play well and I was not getting distracted by the weather."

It was Harrington's performance of his season so far, as the Dubliner reached the turn in 35 to stay level par, then birdied the long fourth and 408-yard sixth.

By matching Woods' score, he limited the US Masters' champion's advantage to three strokes, although he admitted his success could prove to be a double-edged sword.

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Montgomerie missed the cut at the US Open for the first time in 11 years

Harrington will start his third round with Woods, and the American's reputation alone is enough to intimidate even the coolest player.

"Over the years guys who have been paired with Tiger on Saturday or Sunday have tended to be affected negatively.

"There can be a distraction factor, but I've played with him and I'm not interested in what he is going to do, only what I do."

Woods reigns in the rain

While there was delight for Harrington, Colin Montgomerie was dismayed to miss the cut for the first time in 11 years at the US Open.

Montgomerie's six-over-par 76 left him 11 over par - although he was not the only big name to be leaving early.

Defending champion Retief Goosen slumped to a 79 in the first round and followed it up with six at the eighth for a 75 and a 14 over aggregate.

With two to play he was 10 over - the likely cut-off mark. Paul Lawrie finished six over after a second successive 73.


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