Padraig Harrington takes route 66 out of early mire at Mexico Open

Padraig Harrington put together a strong second round showing at the Mexico Open as the three-time major winner's five-under 66 lifted him up to within seven shots of the lead at the halfway point.

The Dubliner, who is the only Irish entrant at the tournament, had come into Friday's round at Vidanta Vallarta well off the pace having opened with a one-over 72 on Thursday.

But Harrington struck gold early, finding a rich vein of form immediately on Friday with a trio of birdies on the first three holes.

A bogey on four briefly stalled that momentum before birdies on five and seven. After another bogey on eight, Harrington picked up further birdies on 12 and 18 on the back nine to move into a tie for 31st on four under, crucially two shots inside the cut mark.

LEADERBOARD

Meanwhile, Matt Wallace added a second round 65 to his opening 66 to take a share of the halfway lead.

The Englishman played his last nine holes in 30, including an eagle three at the sixth hole in between a pair of birdies, as he moved to 11-under-par.

He is joined by Finland's Sami Valimaki, who shot 67, American Jake Knapp and Mexico's Alvaro Ortiz, who both carded a 64.

A better day today. Shot 66(5 under) for a total of 4 under, T31st, 7 behind. Created a lot of chances so it was an easy 66 in the end. It would be nice if all days were like this. @PGATOUR @MexicoOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/aU0Wcxzw9d

They are one shot ahead of the first-round leader Erik van Rooyen from South Africa, who added a 69 to his opening 63 thanks to a pair of late birdies.

There is then a two-shot gap back to American duo Andrew Novak and Mark Hubbard with defending champion Tony Finau among an 18-strong group five strokes off the pace.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre moved to