Italy's Francesco Molinari opened a one-shot lead over South Africa's Charl Schwartzel at the Portugal Masters on Friday, but triple Major winner Padraig Harrington was waiting to pounce.

Molinari added a second round 66 to his opening 63 to reach 15 under with Schwartzel carding a 65.

Harrington hit a second round ten under par 62 to move into third place on 13 under and keep alive his Race to Dubai hopes.

The 38-year-old Irishman had a putt on the last to lower his all-time best round on The European Tour, but mishit it from 18 feet.

"Pity I didn't give it a better run," he said. "I played the tough holes really well and that gave me the opportunity to shoot a really good score. It could even have been the magic number."

Molinari said he has an extra reason for wanting to shine this week - to open the gap again between himself and his older brother on the World Rankings.

Edoardo, US Amateur champion in 2005, is top of The Challenge Tour and has improved to 112th. Francesco is currently 70th.

"I need to play well or he will overtake me," said the 26-year-old. "I'm trying to keep up with him, but it is pretty difficult because he is either winning or finishing second every week."

Schwartzel had a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th, but then came a closing bogey for a second successive 65.

"I played pretty well. I putted better than yesterday. You need to make a few putts, and I did that and I've hit the ball well, so good position," said the South African.

"You can easily start missing a few putts and get down on yourself, because everyone is making. Every time you look on the leaderboard, someone is making a birdie, so it was nice to make a couple of birdies."