Harrington admits Open chance is blown

A TRIPLE bogey at the 11th and a generally uninspiring ball striking display means that Pádraig Harrington's latest challenge for a long threatened major championship success has passed him by.

Harrington admitted as much after signing for a bitterly disappointing 76 on an excellent day for low scoring at Royal Troon yesterday. After a Faldoesque outward journey of nine straight pars, the wheels came off as soon as he turned for home. A bogey at the 10th needn't have been disastrous but a seven at the 490 yards 11th most certainly was.

His tee shot found one of the bushes from where he dropped under penalty. The next also found a bush so he played a provisional ball on to the green and that was the one with which he holed out for seven.