PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Ryo Ishikawa failed to qualify for weekend play at the Transitions Championship on Friday.
Ishikawa followed a disastrous first-round 83 with a 71 that left him in 140th at 12 over.
Ishikawa posted three birdies against as many bogeys.
“The score (12-over-par) ended where I started the day, but the way I played today wasn’t bad at all,” the 18-year-old said. “I’ll try to sort out what I learned this week and prepare for the next tournament.”
Ishikawa is scheduled to play the Arnold Palmer Invitational next week and the Masters before the Japanese season.
Padraig Harrington, already assured of a memorable week after his trip to the White House, put himself in position to make it even better.
Harrington picked up a pair of bonus birdies over the last five holes for a 6-under 65, his low score of the year, and built a one-shot lead going into the weekend on the tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook.
The Irishman has not won a sanctioned tournament since his PGA Championship victory at Oakland Hills at the end of 2008.
“I’m capable of winning in the form I’m in,” said Harrington, who was at 8-under 134. “Am I in my best form? No. Am I getting there? Yes. I’m kind of in the form that I was in at the end of last year. I’m right in the midst of it.”
And he had lots of company.
Jim Furyk, whose last victory against a full field came in the 2007 Canadian Open, was atop the leaderboard with Harrington until missing a 6-foot par putt on the final hole. It wasn’t enough to take away from an otherwise solid round of 68 to put him one shot behind.
Also at 7-under 135 were Carl Pettersson (68), a past winner at Innisbrook who is feeling much better after regaining some girth; Bubba Watson, who missed a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole and had 65; and defending champion Retief Goosen after a 68.
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