Harrington out in front but form still a worry

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON carries a four stroke lead into today’s final round of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Professional Championship at the European Club but to listen him talk after yesterday’s two over par round of 73, he is still some distance from finding the form that will enable him to complete a hat-trick of Open Championship victories at Turnberry next week.

Yesterday’s conditions at this most formidable of links lay-outs on the Irish Sea were by far the least favourable of the three days, a fresh morning breeze giving way in the afternoon to constant rain for the best part of two hours.

It was the kind of challenge Harrington needed going into the Open but for much of the time his game lacked the precision and sharpness so necessary if he is to bring home the Claret Jug for a third successive year in eight days time.