There was a rejuvenated Irish challenge at Carnoustie this afternoon and a course record equaling 64 from American Steve Stricker but Spain's Sergio Garcia is still firmly in control of the British Open ahead of the fourth and final round.

Paul McGinley was first of the Dubliners to take to the course and was quickly into his stride with birdies on two and four, while another at the turn left him on three-under-par.

He moved to four-under on the 14th but carded his only bogey of the day on the penultimate hole.

Harrington found joy at the first, fifth and sixth to join his compatriot soon afterwards and steadied the ship on 15 after bogeying the previous hole.

Both Irishmen will be among the late starters tomorrow and could be sharing the tee box with Ernie Els, KJ Choi and Stewart Cink among others.

Stricker will start with Garcia after a brilliant round. His flawless effort saw him storm to Garcia's overnight total of six under before the Spaniard birdied the first, eighth and 11th to move to nine under and take a three shot lead into tomorrow.

The course record was jointly held by Alan Tait and Colin Montgomerie but Stricker's was the best score in an Open at the Scottish venue. He has been out of the top 40 at the third major of the year since he tied for 22nd on his debut at Lytham in 1996.

Chris DiMarco, runner-up to Tiger Woods last year, was three behind Stricker on three under after a fine 66.

That was precisely the sort of round defending champion Woods had been looking for, but the world number one had to settle for a 69 after twice hitting people in the crowd with wild shots.

One female spectator needed stitches in a head wound after being hit by Woods' sliced approach to the par-five sixth hole.

Jennifer Wilson, 63, from County Antrim, was presented with a signed glove and ball from an apologetic Woods after suffering a cut to the left side of her head.

No damage was done when another fan was struck a glancing blow on the 14th, Woods going on to record one of his four birdies on the 514-yard par five to  finish one-under-par.

"You just have to grind it out," said Woods, who has won all 12 of his major titles when leading or tied for the lead going into the final round.

"I have to play a little bit better than I have been, that's for sure, but at least I've given myself a chance.

"Paul (Lawrie) came from 10 back in 1999 (in the final round) so you can do it on this golf course."

After claiming the amateur prize yesterday Rory McIlroy improved on his second round score but failed to emulate his first round 68, with a 73. The Holywood golfer is four-over-par but still aiming for a top 10 finish.

"I want to play in this next year and the easiest way to do that is to finish in the top 10 this week," said the Irishman, who was the only one of the field's six amateurs to make the cut.

"That's what my mindset was; going out and just trying to play my best golf.

"To be sitting at plus four isn't too bad. If I can go out and shoot a score like Chris DiMarco did (66 for three under for the tournament) it's well within my reach."