Pádraig Harrington has blown his chances of winning a third straight title at the British Open in Scotland.

The Dubliner posted a six-over-par third round of 76 and is now nine over for the tournament and 14 shots off the lead.

Harrington had made the cut by a single shot on three over par after rounds of 69 and 74.

He was eight strokes off the pace but said he could turn things around.


Of course, Harrington, famously came from six shots back to win his first Open at Carnoustie in 2007, but it will take a minor miracle to repeat that this weekend.

The leading Irish players are Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley who are both withing striking distance of the lead at one over par. McDowell shot a round of 71 while McGinley went one better at 70.

Northern Ireland wunderkind Rory McIlroy finished at 74 and seven over after a series of double bogeys while Darren Clarke is at 78 and 10 over.