Michael Campbell knows it will be tough going to overcome the partisan crowds who will support Padraig Harrington in tomorrow’s final round of the Smurfit European but after today’s 70 the New Zealander is still the one to catch at the K-Club.
Campbell commands a one shot lead on six-under from Harrington, who shot his second successive 69, and the 1999 Open winner from Scotland Paul Lawrie, who also shot 69.
"It’s going to be a great day tomorrow. Harrington will be tough to beat but he is definitely beatable," said the Kiwi, acknowledging the volume of home support the Dubliner will receive will work against him when they set off in tomorrow’s final group.
"I had a frustrating round today I gave myself a lot of birdie chances but didn’t convert enough. I was unlucky dropping a shot at the 17th but was pleased to make up for it at the last," said Campbell who eventually held out from 12 feet for birdie at the 18th.
Campbell’s finish would have been eclipsed somewhat by the eagle three Harrington produced. "I had 203 yards left downwind and I hit a seven-iron into four feet and holed it," explained the Dubliner who feels the eagle played him back into contention.
"I’m now in with a chance of winning tomorrow as long as I hole more putts. I had a lot of chances today, luckily I stayed patient and got rewarded for it at the last."
When Darren Clarke finished with three birdies, having just lipped-out for an eagle at the last, you could be forgiven for thinking that the defending champion was putting the finishing touches to a challenge in the hope of defending his title. Not so today. The Tyroneman did something he has never done in his professional career, a run of six consecutive bogeys from the third, ending his chances of being competitive in this tournament.
"I got some outrageously bad breaks on the front nine and paid the penalty for it. I flushed my tee shot up the second, it kicked straight left, finishes on the edge of a bunker a foot-an-a-half above my feet leaving me no shot," said Clarke explaining the beginning of his terminal run.
"I didn’t hit that many bad shots out there, there were no snap hooks, blocks, duffs and all that stuff," he added feeling he just had a day of bad luck on a course which has dealt him emotions at both ends of the scale.
"It seems this course gives me my fair share of ups and downs," he said referring last year’s victory, and before that his record 60 in 1999 but still lost to his friend Lee Westwood in what he then described as his lowest point in the professional game.
"I tried as hard as I could for every one of those 76 shots out there today," was the defence of a man who perhaps thought his critics would simly say he lost interest after things weren’t going his way when the first couple of bogeys were marked on the card.
Earlier in the day Gary Murphy took the bad look off his round with an eagle at the last, signing for a 74 to leave him on three-over. It leaves the Kilkennyman one shot ahead of Eamonn Darcy (73) and Clarke.
John Dwyer’s poor iron play proved much of his undoing on a day when the Ashbourne pro should have felt more relaxed. "I hit so many bad irons, I was a little tense and I shouldn’t have been because trying to qualify yesterday was supposed to be the tough day," said the 28-year-old whose 77 left him on five -over. "I feel as though I can shoot 70 tomorrow, I’ll certainly be aiming to score in the red."
The low round of the day, 67, was shared by Welshman Ian Woosnan and American Fred Funk who both climbed to two-under.
Only 21 of the 72 qualifiers managed to break par today but one person who was pleased with his efforts was Colin Montgomerie. The Scot’s 68 left him only three adrift and in with a chance tomorrow if he can control his unusually errant driving.
"At four under I’m right back in the tournament but I’ve got to get my driving sorted out, I’m pulling the ball left and I don’t know why," said Montgomerie who was still content with his round. "The goal was to get in contention on Saturday night and that’s all I can do."
On a day when one Irishman’s aspirations of winning crumbled uncontrollably on the front nine another forged ahead with all the resilience he has become accustomed to. If Harrington does go on to win tomorrow, Clarke would hardly mind passing his mantle over to the second Irish winner in as many years.
Irish third round scores
6 under- Padraig Harrington (69)
3 over- Gary Murphy (74)
4 over- Eamonn Darcy (73), Darren Clarke (76)
5 over- John Dwyer (77)