Irish effort blown off course

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON gamely battled his way through the 30 miles per hour winds for 15 holes at The K-Club yesterday - and then went double bogey, bogey, bogey to throw away four shots.

It effectively ended his hopes of winning the Smurfit European Open.

He now stands two over for the tournament after yesterday's 76 leaving Paul McGinley, currently in 6th place, easily best of the seven home survivors on three under par and six behind the highly impressive leader, US Open champion Retief Goosen.