Padraig Harrington gave himself every chance to make the Horizon Open Cut with back to back closing birdies as the weather closed in at Mount Juliet.
Having started on the 10th tee at his morning, the three-time major champion was cruising into the weekend until disaster struck on the seventh, his third last hole.
Harrington had no shot when his approach flew over the back of the green and up against a tree, and he was forced to take a drop.
READ MORE: Re-energised Padraig Harrington shoots 70 after dinner table snooze on eve of Irish Open
The 50-year-old missed a seven-footer for bogey and that left him on one-over par for his round, and two-under for the tournament.
It also left him just one outside the projected cut mark.
But Harrington rallied in superb fashion, holing a 13 foot birdie attempt on the par-five eighth and then rolled in another from close to 20 foot on his last, much to the delight of his large support, to card a 71.
With weather conditions worsening, the Stackstown man will hope to be on the right side of the cut.
The afternoon contenders - including Seamus Power and Niall Kearney, who lead the Irish challenge after first round 68s, are dealing with cold, rainy conditions while Shane Lowry has to shoot low as his first round 71 leaves him just outside the cut as things stand.
Ryan Fox of New Zealand led the way overnight after an opening round 64 and has made a quick birdie start to his second round, with an opening birdie.
However after the morning's play, Spaniard Jorge Campillo has take over at the top with a second round 68 to leave him on -11 for the tournament.
Poland's Adrian Meronk fired a 67 to leave himself a shot back of the lead.
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