News from the US PGA Tour in New Jersey

Harrington misses cut but Martin
Laird is in there pitching again

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Defending champion Steve Stricker reeled in overnight leader Hunter Mahan to grab the second-round lead at The Barclays on Friday as world number three Padraig Harrington missed the cut.
The outright lead became Stricker's with a birdie 2 at the 15th to move to 10 under on the way to a seven-under-par round of 64 before Mahan had even set foot on the 7,319-yard Ridgewood Country Club course in New Jersey.
Stricker said: "It is a good course. You've got to do a lot of good things. The greens are tough. But I didn't think the scoring was going to be this low. And when Hunter goes out and shoots that nine-under round, it shows you that it is capable and it is out there."
Mahan had laid down his marker for the first of four FedEx Cup play-off tournaments by blasting a nine-under-par opening round, four shots better than second-placed Englishman Paul Casey.
Stricker started the day a further two shots adrift in a tie for eighth place but proved eager for the chase. The American, who won the 2007 event at Westchester Country Club, holed a birdie at the par-three second hole and then eagled the par-five third, chipping in from 67 yards.
Stricker then closed to within two shots of Mahan with a birdie at the fifth hole to reach the turn in 31, four under for his round. He added another birdie at the 11th and drew level with the leader at the 13th with his fourth birdie of the day.
Mahan failed to build on his dominant position as conditions toughened in the afternoon and fell to seven under, three shots adrift with a two-over-par second-round 73. When asked the difference between his two rounds, Mahan replied `Putts`.
He went on to acknowledge the condition of the course at different times of the day was also a factor, adding: "No question. Especially Thursday morning to Friday afternoon, it's a different golf course. The greens are definitely bouncy and firmer and definitely played tougher."
American Dudley Hart and Angel Cabrera of Argentina finished on six under for the tournament after producing scores of 69 and 67 respectively while Kenny Perry, FedEx Cup points leader in Tiger Woods' absence, joined them after also carding a 67.
Paul Casey was a shot further back in a group of four players on five under after a bogey, bogey finish saw him sign for a level-par 71. Open and US PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington recorded a 73 comprising four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey to finish three over.
Glasgow's Martin Laird, after two successive joint fourth finishes on the US Tour, is in there pitching again. He made the cut with ease - unlike Ernie Els and some other big names - and is well-placed for a run at the leaders over the weekend's 36 holes.
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