US TOUR:A CASE of flattering to deceive? Pádraig Harrington, who returned from knee surgery with a bogey-free 65 to open his bid in the St Jude Classic at Memphis, was brought back down to earth in the second round as he tumbled down the leaderboard.

While American Charley Hoffman shot a second round 65 for 132, eight-under, to claim the early clubhouse lead and Rory McIlroy jumped into contention with a 66 to be on 135, Harrington went in the opposite direction with a round that was in total contrast to his opening salvo on Thursday.

Harrington, in fact, ran up two double-bogeys inside his opening 11 holes to plummet down the leaderboard. After moving into contention with a birdie on the third, the Dubliner found water off the tee on the par three fourth and ran up his first double-bogey and, after dropping a shot on the ninth where his approach hit a tree, Harrington incurred another double-bogey on the 11th to drop back to one-under for the tournament.

In contrast, McIlroy – a week ahead of the US Open at Pebble Beach – showed his wellbeing with a second successive bogey-free round, adding a 65 to his opening 69 for a midway total of 135. The Ulsterman grabbed birdies at the third, ninth, 10th and 16th to move into contention.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, playing in the tournament for the first time, continued his return to form with a 66 for 133, to lie just one stroke adrift of Hoffman.