Padraig Harrington's euphoric mood following Ireland's shock Euro 2016 qualifying win over world soccer champions Germany the night before evaporated all too quickly at the British Masters on Friday - but Shane Lowry stayed in the mix with an impressive 69.
The 44-year-old Dubliner started his second round at Woburn on the 10th hole and was soon cursing his luck, having three-putted the 11th, 12th and 13th for a hat-trick of bogeys.
The tall pine trees lining the par-71 layout situated 50 miles north of London tend to blot out some of the autumnal sunshine, throwing shadows across the greens that make it difficult for the players to read the subtle breaks.
"I putted well yesterday but today I had three three-putts early on that put me on the back foot for the rest of the round," Harrington said after carding a one-over-par 72 for a four-under total of 138 - five shots off the lead.
"It was very, very hard to read the greens today. My three three-putts were definitely down to the shadows.
"I hit three good first putts, all from 35 feet or so, but I just misjudged them in the shadows," said Harrington.
"It does make a big difference, I've got to say, seeing the slopes and that. It's a lot more easy to see the lines when there aren't any shadows around."
Harrington, however, is still within touching distance of the early pacesetters, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Matthew Fitzpatrick of England.
"If the lead stays at nine under par today I'm not out of it," said the triple Major winner.
Lowry is two shots off the joint leaders on seven under par. The Offaly man hit seven birdies to stay right in contention.
Greystones man Paul Dunne is two shots behind Harrington on two under following an excellent 69. Duinne's six birdies were undermined by five bogeys but he is still within touching distance of the leading pack heading into the final day.
Despite a testing afternoon on the course the 1-0 win by Ireland's footballers in Dublin on Thursday night was at the forefront of Harrington's mind.
"I watched it," he said. "One of the caddies here is staying in a bed and breakfast place, it had a big barn with a huge big screen.
"A bunch of us went over there. It was fantastic to watch, a great result."
