Harrington leads - one and five

Strange though it might sound, Padraig Harrington is both one ahead and five ahead with a round to play in the Telefonica Madrid Open.

The Ryder Cup Irishman leads the tournament by one after a rollercoaster third round of 66 – and he is five clear of South African Retief Goosen, the man he trails by £34,000 at the top of the European Order of Merit.

On a Club de Campo course which has already witnessed two of Harrington’s five tour victories, the 31-year-olds stands on the 16-under-par mark of 197.

After running up a bogey six on the 536-yard 14th, he trailed Scott by three. But while he rolled in 25-foot birdie putts at the 16th and 17th, 22-year-old Scott bogeyed the last two.

Those mistakes dropped the Adelaide golfer alongside Dane Steen Tinning, who equalled the lowest round of his tour career with a nine-birdie 62.

``I would not say I am buzzing with confidence,'' admitted Harrington. ``My timing was all out on the back nine, but those two putts were very timely. They made the round, to be honest.

“I’m not sure whether rest or practise is the best thing to do now, but I’m going out there with a great chance to win.”

If he does triumph Harrington will take at least a £15,000 advantage into the final two events of the tour season – and Goosen is not playing the first of them in Italy next week. He is competing at the Tour Championship in America instead.

“On the front nine I had the opportunity to maybe put some space between me and the field,” added one of Europe’s Belfry heroes. “After the 10th, though, I was maybe a little bit defensive at times – certainly not as aggressive as I had been.”

He hit his second into the trees at the 14th and then caught a branch with his third.

Harrington’s maiden tour win came in the 1996 Spanish Open – it was only his 10th event on the circuit – and he came out top again two years ago in the Turespana Masters.

Goosen, chasing his second successive money list crown, also shot 66 and that was a round of ups and downs as well. A bogey at the first, then five birdies, then a bogey at the 16th and then a two on the 167-yard 17th.

Lee Westwood, without a tour victory for over two years and without even a top 10 finish for 14 months, had the most bizarre round, however.

The 2000 European number one produced two eagles, but also snap-hooked five of his drives. Yet he came out of the day with a 66 as well and in fifth place on 13 under is far from out of the running.

“I am amazed I managed 66,” he said. “I’ve not been hanging in there and my head’s being going down, but that wasn’t the case this time.

“I know what I am doing wrong and how to cure it. But it’s just doing it, especially out on the course.

“I had to laugh about some of the shots. One of them was 70 yards left. But it was nice to hole a few putts for a change.” He made a 25-footer and four 20-footers.