Irishman Padraig Harrington has endured mixed fortunes in his third round bid to catch overnight leader Ross Fisher at The European Open.
Nine behind Fisher after an opening 72 and 11 adrift following his 70 yesterday, The Open champion started with a birdie three at The London Golf Club and then eagled the 541 yard fifth with a stunning 30 foot putt.
At five under par the Dubliner still had an eight shot gulf to bridge, but he was into a tie for 13th place and was doing a power of good to his Ryder Cup campaign and Open Championship preparations.
He then converted a 20 foot chance for birdie at the next and when he two-putted the downwind 563 yard eighth, he was seven under and into a tie for fifth.
His outward 31 could have been better, but a 15 foot putt on the ninth eluded him before he dropped a shot on the par four tenth and another at the 12th.
A further bogey at the par four 14th left him on four under par, but an eagle on the par five 15th followed before he found water on the last for a bogey and a three under par 69.
Spain’s Ignacio Garrido enjoyed a good morning at The London Golf Club. He resumed at one under par, but with birdies on the third and sixth sandwiching an eagle on the fifth, he took just 32 shots to complete the opening nine.
Further birdies on the tenth and 12th moved him to seven under par with three holes to play, but a dropped shot at the 16th slowed his momentum. Successive pars on the 17th and 18th holes saw him card a fine 67 and claim a share of tenth place.
Elsewhere, Australia’s Richard Green picked up three birdies in the first nine holes to go five under par, but has since dropped shots on the tenth and 11th holes.
