Harrington in positive mood ahead of final round

Ireland's Padraig Harrington believes the wrist injury which had the defence of his Open title in doubt has been a blessing in disguise.

Harrington rated his chances of teeing off on Thursday at 75% and thought he was only 50-50 to be able to complete the championships after injuring his right wrist in practice on Saturday.

Now the 36-year-old feels that being unable to practice fully has worked in his favour as the players battled rain and winds gusting up to 50mph during the first three rounds at Royal Birkdale.

Speaking after a third round of 72 which left him four over par, two shots behind leader Greg Norman and alongside the 53-year-old Australian in the final group tomorrow, Harrington said: "I only played nine holes before the tournament started. The 54 holes since feel like 108 but at least I didn't tire myself out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The wrist seems to be fine. I'm confident in it at this stage."

Last year Harrington was six shots behind Sergio Garcia going into the final round but eventually won in a four-hole play-off against his Ryder Cup team-mate, and admits the circumstances tomorrow will be completely different.

"Last year I was going into the final round under no particular pressure, just go out and play and anything can happen," added Harrington, aiming to become the first European to successfully defend the Open since James Braid in 1906.

"Tomorrow I would love to have the same attitude but it's going to be a tighter day.

"It's going to be a day when you are watching other people as well. Last year the only person I was focused on was me because I had to go forward to have a chance of winning. Tomorrow you don't know if a good or steady day could be good enough.

"I will attempt to do all of those things I did last year. I have to realise I might not be in that zone tomorrow but maybe I don't have to be either."

As for his round today, the former European number one added: "It was one of those days to stay focused in the present and I won't know what to think until I sit down and rest later this evening.

"I'm happy with the score, it could have been lower but I certainly would have taken that going out there.

"I didn't see the leaderboards all day, kept my head down. I knew everybody would find it tough. You could see if things got away from you it was going to be a tough day. The key was to get a few breaks."

One of those breaks came on the fifth when Harrington looked certain to drop his second shot of the day, only to hole his pitch from 50 yards for a birdie three.

Another birdie followed on the seventh but he was in danger of slipping out of contention when he dropped four shots in the next five holes.

However, birdies at the 15th and 17th negated the effect of another bogey on the 16th and gave the Dubliner a great chance of holding aloft the Claret Jug for the second year in succession.