Late bogeys and a double bogey on 17 saw a positive moving day for Pádraig Harrington unravel as he slumped to a third round of level-par 72 at the Horizon Irish Open at a sun kissed K Club.
Having made the cut on the number, Harrington still dragged a large gallery with him and there was plenty to cheer, particularly around the turn when he reeled off three birdies in four holes to reach five-under-par. Back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15 halted his momentum and despite birdieing 16 – while watching playing partner Santiago Tarrio take 12 whacks – he drove left into the water on the par-4 17th which cost him a double bogey and saw his round fall flat on its face as he fell back to where he started the day on two-under.
“It was OK up until the end and got away from me which is a pity,” said a disappointed Harrington. “Disappointing bogey on 14, 15, there were some tougher pins and then trying to hit the fairway on 17 you can always hit it in the water which i did, it happens. Not the finish I wanted, was hoping to get to the clubhouse in six-under, instead I’m two. Early start in the morning.”
The 52-year-old rolled back the years at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland with a final round 65 to surge into the top-20 and he will be looking for a repeat tomorrow.
“Always trying to shoot a low one go out tomorrow and see how it goes, go out on a run. Should’ve had four in a row today, hit it close a few times, you need runs like that. Tougher pins for sure the course is tougher, not as many scoring opportunities as there were the first two days.
“Just trying to shoot as low as possible and take each shot as it comes I know I can’t win the tournament. You are searching for something for next week it could be one swing and that’s it all of a sudden you get on a run and it can be just one shot that switches everything around and you are on an upward trend rather than searching.
“We are all looking for that moment where we feel like we are playing well, sometimes it’s outside our hands and you get a break without realising it and you think you are playing great. Sometimes you hit a great shot that gets a bad bounce and you think you’re playing poor, golf is forever a real test of mental fortitude.”
Harrington will have another early tee time but he can expect another adoring crowd to will him on throughout Sunday morning. While he may not be in contention he is still loved and has felt it throughout his opening three rounds.
“It really was a great crowd for an early morning crowd it was very good there was a lovely buzz out there right from the start it was very nice, made a few birdies for them and it was excellent.|
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