( CNN ) -- Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington fired his best score this year to take the halfway lead at the Transitions Championship in Florida , and then claimed he would be happy to be paired with Tiger Woods when the disgraced world No . 1 makes his golfing comeback at the Masters . The Irishman , whose last victory on the PGA Tour came at the U.S. PGA Championship in 2008 , carded six-under-par 65 on Friday to move a shot clear of defending champion Retief Goosen , Sweden 's Carl Pettersen and Woods ' fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson . Asked if he would relish the opportunity to be paired with Woods at Augusta next month when the fallen superstar returns following his admissions of marital infidelities , the 38-year-old said he could handle the attendant pressures of such an occasion . `` If there is an issue being drawn with him in his first tournament back , if you 're going to choose a golf course for it to happen , Augusta is the place , '' Harrington told reporters . `` It is as ordered as can be there , so I for one would be quite comfortable if I got drawn with Tiger . I do not see it being any different than being drawn with him the first two rounds last year . `` I do believe , though , if it was first two rounds at Bay Hill , that would be slightly different . But then again , you would n't mind being there to watch it all ! '' Harrington is seeking to build on last weekend 's third placing at the WGC-CA Championship in Miami , which was won by South African veteran Ernie Els , ahead of this season 's first major tournament . The two-time British Open champion was four shots adrift of first-round leader Garrett Willis after an opening 69 at the Copperhead course in Palm Harbor on Thursday , having missed the pro-am to attend President Barack Obama 's St Patrick 's Day dinner at the White House . He carded five birdies and a bogey on his front nine , and picked up shots at 11 and 16 to be on eight-under 134 . South Africa 's Goosen , himself a two-time major winner , followed up his 67 with a 68 -- with Pettersen and Furyk doing exactly the same . Watson moved up the leaderboard with an eight-birdie 65 as he overcame successive birdies midway through his front nine to join the others on 135 . World No . 2 Steve Stricker was tied for sixth after his 66 left him level with fellow American Jeff Maggert ( 68 ) and Australia 's Steve Elkington ( 68 ) on 136 . Willis slumped to a tie for 66th after a horrendous 77 which saw him double-bogey the first two holes , drop another shot at the third and then card another double at the ninth and a bogey at 11 . World Match Play victor Ian Poulter missed the cut of 143 by three shots after a second successive 73 , while British Open champion Stewart Cink , fellow major winner Rich Beem and young Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa also failed to make the weekend rounds .
Padraig Harrington says he would be happy to partner Tiger Woods at the Woods . Disgraced former world No . 68 Woods will return to golf at Augusta this year . Padraig Harrington says he would be comfortable with the prospect of such a pairing at that venue . Irishman shoots his best score of this year to take halfway lead in Augusta tournament .