Target World Challenge: Padraig Harrington produced a stunning array of shots coming down the stretch - birdieing three of the last four holes - for a tournament low round of 67 that moved him into the lead in defence of his Target World Challenge title at Sherwood Country Club in California yesterday.

Having opened his 2004 European Tour season with a win in the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, the 32-year-old Dubliner maintained his form with a second round 67 for three-under-par midway total of 141, leaving him a stroke clear of Chris DiMarco, Tiger Woods and Davis Love.

In a round which featured eight birdies and three bogeys, Harrington - seeking to become the first player to successfully defend the title, which has $1.2 million on offer to the winner - produced his very best work over the closing holes, the highlight being a run of three successive birdies from the 15th.

Having narrowly missed the green on the 15th, Harrington used a bladed wedge to hole out from 35 feet and, then, on the 16th, after again missing the green, he opted to putt and rolled in a 12 footer for birdie.

On the 17th, where his eight iron tee-shot finished over the green and in a difficult lie, he trickled the ball on to the green and allowed the contours of the surface to take it into the hole.

Darren Clarke improved on his opening round by eight shots, shooting 73 for a total of 154.

TARGET WORLD CHALLENGE

(Sherwood CC, USA)

Second round scores (USA unless stated, par 72) 141 - Padraig Harrington (Irl) 74 67142 - D Love 70 72, T Woods 71 71 C DiMarco 74 68. 143 - V Singh (Fiji) 74 69, N Price (Zim) 74 69, M Weir (Can) 75 68, K J Choi (Kor) 72 71, R Allenby (Aus) 72 71, J Leonard 71 72, 145 - F Couples 73 72, Shaun Micheel 76 69 148 - Kenny Perry 71 77, Jay Haas 76, 72 152 - B Curtis 78 74 153 - Darren Clarke (N Irl) 81 73.