AKRON, Ohio, (Reuters) – Padraig Harrington played  patiently on a course that is becoming increasingly difficult  to negotiate to take a one-shot lead in the WGC-Bridgestone  Invitational second round yesterday.

Bidding for his first victory of the year on any of the  leading tours, the Irishman followed his opening 64 with a  one-under-par 69 on a tree-lined layout running fast and firm.

Two ahead overnight, Harrington mixed two birdies with a  sole bogey to post a seven-under total of 133 in the final  World Golf Championships (WGC) event of the season.

South African Tim Clark was alone in second after carding a  68 at Firestone Country Club with U.S. Ryder Cup player Scott  Verplank (69) a further stroke back at five-under.

World number one Tiger Woods, seeking his fifth PGA Tour  victory of the year and a record seventh title at Firestone,  was five strokes off the pace after returning a 70.

Harrington, competing in his first tournament since the  British Open three weeks ago, was delighted to maintain control  after covering the back nine in one-under 34.

“I’m obviously happy,” the 37-year-old Dubliner said.     “Anything under 70 from here on in is going forward so I’m  quite pleased to have shot 69.

“You’d like to make some birdies but you’re always aware  that you don’t want to drop shots,” Harrington said of his more  cautious approach for the second round.

“There were times when I was a little bit conservative and  it was good in one sense; I only short-sided myself once  today.”

His only blemish came at the par-four eighth where he  struck a tree with his drive and then pulled his approach well  left, leaving himself very little green to salvage par.

His third shot ran 45 feet past the pin from where he  two-putted for bogey.

Woods, fresh from registering his 69th PGA Tour victory at  the Buick Open on Sunday, remained at two-under after a round  featuring two birdies and two bogeys.