Harrington is the first Irish winner at the Open since Fred Daly in 1947

Garcia was four shots clear at one stage on a dramatic final day while Andres Romero also had a two-shot lead.

Harrington led by one at the 18th but found water twice to double bogey, only for Garcia to also drop a shot when needing only a par to win the title.

Harrington, 35, edged home in the play-off, winning it by one shot.

Highlights: Open Championship play-off

Interview: Ireland's Padraig Harrington

Interview: Sergio Garcia

By Ben Dirs

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1942: Padraig struggles to get his words out as he chats to the BBC's Hazel Irvine - Lord alone knows what Sergio must feel like, but Padraig provides us with a hint: "If I had lost that, I don't think I would have been able to play competitive golf again." Ouch. Anyway, that's me done - it's been truly epic and I hope you, like me, loved every minute of it.

1936: Garcia rolls in his par putt and Harrington needs to putt his...and in it goes! Harrington is Ireland's first Open winner for 60 years and Europe's first for eight! Absolutely gutting for Garcia, jubilation for Padraig. Out comes the Irish flag and Fred Daly will be beaming down at him from up on high. I'm choking up, I'm actually choking up, although I'm not sure it's because Padraig's won or Sergio's lost.

1934: Harrington curls his monster par putt four feet by but he's in pole position here - he should drop that in to win it. Garcia's birdie putt just misses to the right, another slight lip, and it looks like the game is up for the Spaniard.

1932: Young Silver Medal winner McIlroy looks on from the edge of the green - stick this in the memory bank, young fella, you could need it one day.

1930: Not the cleverest of approaches from Harrington - he's on in three but he's got 35 feet to the hole and is outside Garcia's second. It's dustbin lid time for Padraig.

1927: Harrington does opt to lay-up with a seven iron and he's got 105 yards to the front of the green with his third. The door is ajar, can Garcia rip it off its hinges? He doesn't quite do that, but he does loosen the screws somewhat with a doozy of a six iron to within 20 feet of the hole. This is sport at its most compelling and the Carnoustie faithful are lapping up every last morsel of drama.

1925: Harrington, thinks Sam Torrance, is going to struggle to find the green with his second. He's got 268 to the flag and 243 to the front of the green - he may choose to pull out a short iron and lay-up. Garcia, on the other hand, despite finding rough with his tee shot, can get on in two.

1920: What will Harrington pull out at 18? It's a hybrid by the look of things. He has a long chat with his caddie before re-teeing and having another look. The Irishman gets over the ball and finds green, green grass with his tee shot. Garcia, who has taken iron on this hole the last few days, pulls out the big dog from his quiver and hammers his tee shot into the rough to the left of the fairway. He's still alive however and he's got a good angle into the green.

1916: Harrington's walk to the 17th green is almost like a victory march, the Irishman twirling his hat and soaking up the cheers like a conquering hero. Garcia putts...and it's in all the way...but it stays just left of the hole. I, and most of my colleagues, thought that was dropping. Harrington stands over his ball for what seems like an age...and he doesn't give it enough, the ball wriggling off to the left. A reprieve for the Spaniard, he would have been toast had that gone in. Harrington two ahead going to the last play-off hole - the dastardly 18th.

1912: Harrington is grinding Garcia down here - an absolute peach of an approach at 17 and he's got a birdie putt from 10 feet. Get inside that, Sergio...he can't, although it's not a bad shot, his ball fading into the green to within 20 feet of the hole.

"Sorry Padraig, but my mum wants Garcia to win - and she's 77."
Gary, Romsey, via text

1910: Harrington whips his tee shot down the 17th fairway and Garcia fizzes his 10 yards past. The Spaniard's tee shot flirts with the wispy rough but scuttles back on to the thin stuff. It's a jaffa of a day now on the Angus coast, the winner will be bathed in sunshine when he holds aloft the Claret Jug.

1907: I did live commentary on the men's singles final at Wimbledon and I thought that was nerve-jangling. This makes that feel like a veterans mixed-doubles at some tin-pot tennis club in the home counties. This is the sharpest end of sport as far as I'm concerned.

1906: Gossamer touch from Padraig, rolling his birdie putt to three feet. Garcia leaves his birdie putt short and the Irishman will take his two-shot lead to the third play-off hole...Harrington took an age over his tiddler, Garcia got over his and rapped it in double-quick.

1857: Harrington pulls out his hybrid on the 16th and yanks his tee shot short and left. Garcia swings and is straight down picking up his tee - always a good sign. His ball pitches, bounces twice and clatters the pin before rolling 20 feet past the hole. There's Jimenez and McGinley crouched among the cabbage like two twitchers eyeing a couple of rare birds. Jimenez has a big fat laady-daa on the go, McGinley makes do with an ear of corn.

1854: Garcia's par putt starts to come left before drifting right of the hole. That's a five for the Spaniard and Harrington can go two ahead here. That's steely from Padraig, curling in his birdie putt. The Irishman leads by two heading to the 16th, the second play-off hole.

1852: Some young chap is poring over his new Harry Potter in the grandstand - one of the greatest finishes in major history and he's reading a poxy book. This country. Garcia is half-plugged and he's only able to dig it out to within about 15 feet.

1849: Garcia is unable to clear the bunker with his second shot, despite his remonstrations, but Harrington makes no mistake - he's six feet from the pin. Over the four rounds, Garcia is one under for the four play-off holes, while Harrington is three over. He has TWICE double bogeyed the 18th.

"You could cut the tension in the BBC studio with a plastic knife. Most of the support is going Harrington's way but everyone is just glad there is going to be a European winner. What a classic."
BBC Sport's TV mole at Carnoustie

1844: Harrington pulls something out of a mysterious, black velvet purse and whatever it was, he's going to have first whack. The Irishman is forced to pull away because of some noise in the gallery, but he gets his three wood away at the second time of asking. Straight down the middle that, and Garcia follows him down with a clipped long iron.

1842: Here comes Harrington, twirling his cap and looking full of beans as he strides onto the tee box. Garcia looks a little more nervous as he shuffles into view, hand stuffed defiantly into his pockets.

1838: Garcia beat Harrington for a play-off at the 2004 Buick Classic, although Harrington won a play-off last week, although it was 'only' the Irish Professional Championship.

1834: The play-off holes are 1 followed by the killer stretch of 16, 17 and 18. Garcia practices a bit of putting while Padraig swings a couple of clubs behind his neck.

"The last three holes are unbelievable - the first 15 are magnificent, but those last three are brutal..."
BBC Sport's Mark James

1828: Stricker pars the last for a 74 and he finishes three under. Garcia lines up his putt, makes a good stroke...but the ball just catches the left-hand side of the hole and lips out. That's a four-hole play-off folks. That looked for all the world as if it was going to nip right at the final moment and drop. Sergio slumps over his putter but he needs to gather himself...and fast - Padraig's already on the tee and awaiting his rival.

1824: Hearty applause as Garcia makes his way to the green, but his family are looking a touch greener than they did a few minutes ago. Decent lie for Garcia and he splashes out to within 10 feet. A 10-footer to win the Open - all you Spaniards start summoning up the spirit of Seve...

1821: Three iron is the club of choice for Sergio and he's going to have to give this some serious welly...it's a bit heavy...no-one's shouting...and he's in the bunker to the front left of the green. He needs to get up and down to win it.

1816: Garcia pulls out a long iron and fizzes his tee shot down the middle at 18. The Spaniard eyes his ball anxiously before exhaling loudly. Just one more good swing and the Open is his. He's got about 245 to the green - I know what I'd do if I was him, pull out a dirty great rescue club and clatter it as far as I possibly could just to avoid a watery grave. Shame I play like an old woman. DiMarco double bogeys the last for a 75 and plus one overall. A 73 for McGinley and he's one under for the tournament. A welcome return to form for the Irishman.

1811: Cink of America taps in for bogey at the last, a round of 70 and four under overall. Padraig has a horror putt at 18 for double-bogey six...but he shows some mongrel and pours it in. He finishes with a 67 for seven under overall and the clubhouse lead. Well done my son. On runs his little boy into the arms of his daddy - lovely touch. Saying that, I hope he's wearing spikes...

1809: Harrington gets his fifth shot to grip and heel just five feet from the cup at 18. Sink that, and Garcia will need a par at the last to win the Open.

1808: Garcia curls his birdie putt at 17 just right of the hole but taps in for par to stay eight under. A grimace from Sergio, but it's his to lose now.

1804: Harrington is forced to wait and watch as Garcia finds the heart of the green with his second. And when Harrington's turn does come, he makes an utter horlicks of it, yanking his third shot into the burn once again. I expect a collective groan to whip in from the Irish Sea and reach me in about 10 minutes.

1759: Garcia can't help having a little smile to himself as he watches Harrington stroll towards the Barry Burn. Harrington has to wait for Garcia and Stricker to boom their drives down the 17th, which they do, before he can cross the water and assess the damage. Garcia and Harrington then cross the bridge in opposite directions - not a peep between them...it's all getting a bit wild west at Carnoustie.

1756: I think I'm about to have a cardiac arrest. Harrington pulls out the big stick at 18, gives it some serious rat-a-tat-tat and his ball bounces halfway across the bridge scaling the Barry Burn before ducking right and into the water. It's Van de Velde all over again, and it appears that the Irishman has just blown the Open Championship. Garcia makes a ballsy clutch putt at 16 to stay at eight under.

1753: Els's birdie putt at 18 slides just by the hole and he taps in for a round of 69 five under overall. He'll still be thinking about that triple-bogey at 6 on Saturday when he's old and slightly infirm. If it wasn't for that, he's be right in the mix.

1750: Harrington fails with his birdie attempt at 17 but that's a solid four and he's off to gird his loins for one last rip at the 18th. Surgical judgement from Garcia at 16 and his putt from off the dancefloor comes up just shy.

1748: Garcia pulls out a four iron at the par-three 16th and finds a hollow to the front left of the green. He'll have a little bitty chip, and he could do without little bitty chips at this stage in his round.

1744: Garcia bends his par putt wide at 15 and he drops back to eight under - one shot behind Harrington. Sixty years since an Irishman last won the Open - Fred Daly at Hoylake. And much as there will be gallons of tears shed if Sergio loses this, Padraig would prove an incredibly popular winner.

1741: Harrington slaps his tee shot down the middle of the 17th - he was down picking up his tee just a few seconds after making contact. Nice touch from Garcia from the edge of the 15th, but he's got a very nasty par putt from 10 feet. Miss that, and he could be toast.

1736: Garcia hits a nervy tee shot down 15 and Padraig's birdie putt misses by a whisker at 16. Sergio pulls out a four iron and attempts to make the 15th green from 268 yards away - never likely to happen and his ball pulls up short. Cink birdies 16 to jump to five under and KJ Choi is in with a 71 and three under overall.

1729: Furyk cards a 71 to finish on two under. Harrington has just unfurled a peach at 16 and he's got a 10-foot putt to reclaim the outright lead. "Touche!", cries Cink, as he somehow slides his tee shot inside that of Harrington.

1725: Ernie saves par at 16 to stay five under, but the South African is now in miracle territory. Harrington's birdie putt at 15 slides by the hole and he stays at nine under. Garcia gives his 100-footer at 14 a fearful rap and leaves himself a brute coming back for birdie...BUT HE'S ONLY GONE AND DRAINED IT! KISS MY FACE SERGIO! The Spaniard joins Harrington on nine under and I feel a playoff coming on...

1720: Jimenez drains a monster for birdie at 18 and he finishes with a 71 for two under overall. McGinley makes eagle at 14 to get back to two under. Garcia, adrenalin shooting through his veins, overclubs at the par-five 14th and he's got a monster putt for eagle coming back. Romero duffs his second at 18 and his challenge looks to be over...unless...unless...

1716: One of the tensest finishes to a major championship ever and Bobby Mackenzie (see below) is comparing aerial views of holes to characters from 80's children's classic Rainbow. Take a break from the funny fags Bobby and concentrate on what's happening in that little box in the corner of your living room. Romero, however, has got his head together and he murders his drive down the 18th.

1712: Romero takes a drop and recovers well - he could escape with a bogey at 17 which wouldn't be too bad at all. And Harrington has snatched the lead! A 10-footer at 14 for eagle and Carnoustie goes wild. The Irishman is nine under, while Romero drops a couple at 17 to slip two shots off the lead. For the love of God, does there have to be a loser!

"Have any of the commentary team noticed that the aerial view of the 18th looks like Zippy?"
Bobby Mackenzie, Elgin, via text

1707: Whoops-a-daisy Martin Hayesy - one false swing from Romero and with that his Open dreams are in tatters...or are they? His second shot at 17 ricochets off the bank of the Barry Burn and out of bounds. Garcia sinks his birdie at 13 to move to eight under, Harrington has a putt for eagle at 14. This is too much, I'm almost weeping into my keyboard.

1704: Romero makes a poor swing off the tee at 17 but gets lucky - he'll have a shot into the green from the wispy stuff. Garcia gives his ball a chill off the tee at the par-three 13th and it comes down six feet from the hole. Birdie chance. Els's chance may have gone - he drills his tee shot at 15 into some cabbage.

1700: I can't quite believe what I'm seeing here - the unheralded Andres Romero has just drained a 30-footer to move to nine under and two shots clear of the field. There will be bookies across the globe chuckling into their piles of cash as I type.

1655: Harrington misses a birdie putt 13 before Els finds the green with his second at the par-five 14th. Els needs one or two miracles to claim the Claret Jug now. It's just not happening for Garcia whose round is hanging limply in the wind at the moment. He pushes his birdie putt wide at the 12th and remains at seven under.

1648: Romero finds some thick stuff off the tee at 15 but dredges up a miraculous recovery to give himself a 15-footer for a third birdie in a row and the outright lead. Els rat-a-tats a three wood down the 14th before Romero takes the tournament by the scruff of the neck with a 30-foot birdie putt at the 15th. The Argentine has the outright lead on eight under. This is bubbling up into a classic Open Championship.

1643: Harrington very nearly curls in his birdie putt at the 12th, but his ball has a look over the edge before top-toeing round the outside. The Irishman remains seven under. Woods also lips out at 18 and he finishes with par, a round of 70 and two under for the tournament. The defending champion manages a smile, but rarely has his game looked so ragged as it has over these last four days. Els drops a shot at 13 after a poor bunker shot and he's now minus five. Garcia's birdie attempt at 10 slides by the hole and he and Stricker tap in for par.

1641: Off comes the cap as Tiger soaks up the applause down the 18th. He's got a short birdie putt to finish on three under, which isn't at all bad considering he appears to have been playing like Jimmy Tarbuck for the last four days.

1636: Stricker drills his second at 11 into the heart of the green and Garcia finds the back left. Els drains a nasty 10-footer at 12 to stay at six under. Harrington is like a man possessed at the moment - his approach at 12 gives him a good chance of a birdie. But he's not the only man frothing like a madman down this final stretch - Romero joins him and Garcia on seven under with a birdie at 14. I get the feeling Sergio's going to get gobbled up here...

"Hello thrill-seekers, I have finally discovered where it's at at Carnoustie - it's right here, right now. This is athletic endeavour from the top drawer. What do I know? I know that Andres Romero's favourite pastime is monocycling and Pelle Edberg likes 'indoor floorball' - a game he invented when he was eight and can only be played in the hallway of his parent's house, with a tennis ball. Good grief, Romero might win this thing."
BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Carnoustie

1629: Stricker makes a clutch putt at 10 to stay at five under, but Garcia drags his birdie putt left - once you start missing...The Spaniard, however, still has the joint lead with Harrington on seven under. Els duffs his second at 12 and he's left with a tricky chip.

1625: That's spunk from Romero - after his travails at 12 he rolls in a 10-footer at 13 to move back to six under. Majestic from Garcia, a sky-high wedge that finishes six feet from the cup.

1622: Garcia whip-cracks his tee shot straight down the middle at 10, but Harrington of Ireland has joined him atop the leaderboard with birdie at 11. Cink birdies 11 to move to four under. Masters champion Zach Johnson is in with a 70 to finish even par for the tournament.

1619: Harrington has the grim look of a man who is about to land his first major - he pings an iron to within four feet of the cup at 11 to set up another birdie chance. Els slaughters his drive down the middle of the 12th.

1616: Garcia rolls his birdie putt to a couple of feet and taps in to stop the bleeding. Romero, meanwhile, misses his bogey putt and slips back to five under. All of which means Garcia has the outright lead again. The wind is up and this is all becoming a bit too much. it certainly is for Stricker who misses his third putt from under four feet to slip two behind Garcia. Els and Harrington are, all of a sudden, looking like likely champions.

1613: Romero has taken a drop at 11 and Els is pacing about grim-faced on the 12th tee behind him as if he's stuck behind four old girls on a municipal in Romford. Romero does eventually flop a wedge onto the green but he's got a monster for bogey.

1608: Garcia gets a break at 9, his drive scuttling through the thick rough and out the other side. Stricker finds the fairway. Harrington rolls a clutch par putt in at 10 to stay one off the lead.

"These really are crisis strokes now for Sergio Garcia. He desperately needs to settle, and settle quickly."
BBC Sport's Mark James

"There's a bank of seriously dark cloud rolling towards Carnoustie. This could come down to who can win in a storm."
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at Carnoustie

1603: Garcia's hands look to be disassociated from the rest of his body at the moment. He fluffs his chip at 8 and that's another shot gone. Stricker makes par to stay six under, but Garcia is now joint leader with Romero. The last time I saw Romero, however, his backside was sticking out of some shrubbery next to the 12th fairway.

1559: Harrington makes birdie at 9 and he's minus six and ghosting through the pack at the moment. Garcia blocks his tee shot at at the par-three 8 and is second shot will be a delicate chip onto the green. Harrington's dander is well and truly up as he marmalises his drive down the 10th. That's not clever from Romero - he pulls out the big stick and plonks his drive into a thicket at 12.

1552: Remarkable from Argentina's Romero - he finds the sand at 11 but holes his escape to move to seven under. What odds this lad winning the thing on Thursday morning? DiMarco double bogeys 8 to drop back to three under and Garcia has dropped another at 7 - his lead is now one and he needs to have a little chat to himself. Like a stock car rattling towards the chequered flag, there are little bits falling off on every corner at the moment.

1546: Garcia is playing with a very naughty ball - despite repeatedly ordering it to "sit", it bounces over the back of the 7th green to leave a tricky chip coming back.

"Garcia needs to calm down a little bit and grind out some holes. He's very excitable at the moment..."
BBC Sport's Sam Torrance

1542: McGinley is back at level after an ugly double bogey at 7. That's his challenge over. Romero is still yomping along, however, as he makes up for a dropped shot at 9 with a birdie at 10 to get back to six under. Garcia pulls his tee shot slightly at 7 and he's in the wisp stuff - no great drama however. Ernie's birdie putt at 9 slides past the hole, but he's out in 33 blows and is three of the lead. Looking a bit murky out there, let's hope the weather doesn't close in and turn this whole thing into a ruddy lottery.

1538: Don't go choking on me Sergio. That was a very nervous stroke for a birdie at 6 and his ball slides four feet past. Another nervy one coming back - the ball wipes its feet before removing its hat and deciding to pop in. Massive save that. Stricker takes a bullet, missing his short one for birdie, and that's another missed opportunity for the American. He remains three off the lead.

1534: America's Hunter Mahan is in with a 65 and he's four under for the tournament. Stricker sticks his third at 6 to within six feet, but Garcia matches him. Tiger is still grinding away behind them - he moves to two under with a birdie at 13.

"One last piece of inane prattle before we concentrate solely on the business end of the tournament. Many of you will remember my deep-fried pizza experience earlier in the week. Just to let you know it has been removed from the menu from the offending chip shop on Carnoustie's Strip! No idea why - perhaps the Americans here have got wind of it and they've sold out. Let's put it this way, it hasn't been removed for the good of Carnoustie's waistlines as it's been replaced with good old chips and cheese."
BBC Sport's TV mole at Carnoustie

1529: Ken Brown pets a tiny, tiny toad next to the 6th fairway, but Garcia and Stricker have got more than miniature amphibians on their mind as they both slap their tee shots down the middle of the 6th fairway. DiMarco moves to five under with a birdie at the 6th.

1523: Garcia misses his lengthy par putt at 5 and that's his first dropped shot since the 11th hole on Friday. Stricker, however, also drops a shot to move into a share of second with Els and Romero. Green taps in for a course record-equalling 64.

1519: Green finds the 18th green with his third and has a 15-footer for a new course record 63. The Aussie gets a big rap from the gallery as he marches onto the dancefloor. Stricker finds the sand with his second at the 5th. Ireland's Harrington birdies the 6th to move to five under.

1516: Els picks up another shot at 6 to move to within four of the lead and Romero is hurtling through the chasing pack - he's also six under after a birdie at 8. Garcia, his ball nestled on the rim of a bunker and his feet four feet below in the sand, can only nudge his second at the 5th down the fairway. Can he hear the big size 12s of Ernie yomping up behind him?

1511: Green needs par at the last for a round of 63 and a new course record. But the Australian finds some cabbage with his tee shot. Woods' challenge is peetering out as he finds sand with his approach at 11. Garcia yanks his tee shot at 5 and he's got a horrible stance on top of a deep pot bunker. Woods fluffs his first escape attempt and that's another bogey for the big man - he's one under and nine off the lead.

1508: Green joins Stricker on six under with a beautifully-judged birdie putt on 17...but Stricker, like a long distance runner taking a peak over his shoulder, slots his birdie putt at 4 to move ahead again on seven under. Garcia makes a solid par to lead by three.

1505: Green unfurls another willowy mid iron at 17 and he's got a birdie putt to move to six under. Stricker's approach at 4 is a doozy to leave him a tiddler for birdie. Garcia is safely on but some distance from the hole. Els's third shot at 6 is a peach and he's got a 10-footer for birdie.

1502: All facets of Garcia's game look tip-top and he murders another drive down the middle of the fairway at 4. Stricker follows suits, but 30 yards behind.

1458: Garcia birdies 3 to move to 10 under - and that's a four shot lead as Stricker pushes his birdie putt wide of the hole. Sergio opening his legs and stretching into the distance. Stewart Cink birdies 4 to move to four under and Argentina's Romero is five under after a birdie at 6.

1455: Stricker plonks his second at the par-four 3rd to within two feet...and Garcia almost trumps him, the Spaniard fizzing his ball past the hole before yanking on the string and bringing it back to within four feet. Woods flops an eight iron at the par-four 10th onto the heart of the green.

1450: Woods is getting a little frustrated as he leaves his birdie putt short at 9. In comes 2003 winner Ben Curtis with a sparkling 65 - that's three under and the clubhouse lead. Broadhurst is pulling up some trees out there - he picks up another shot at 5 to move to five under.

"Preferring the hands-free approach to life on course, I ventured out this morning without an umbrella or hat, happy to accept whatever Carnoustie could throw at me. A friendly steward, staggered at the lack of equipment I had been afforded, suggested a way I could carry an umbrella and still take notes or operate my on-course radio. It involved a double belt and a bit of old pipe, a gizzmo possibly created by flag bearers during the Boer War. With creativity like that, he could get a job in our innovations department."
BBC Sport's Stuart Roach at Carnoustie

1445: Cashmere touch from Garcia, rolling his monster putt up to the hole on the 2nd green. He'll have a Dennis Wise for par - a nasty little five-footer. Stricker makes par and Sergio follows him in. Ballsy. Plenty of noise on the golf desk at work, the Tour de France, Grand Prix and Test match live people sound like they're watching a game of Cluedo. THIS IS WHERE THE ACTION IS FOLKS!

1440: KJ Choi birdies the 4th to get to four under. Stricker gets his approach at 3 to bounce right off a greenside mound and onto the dancefloor. Garcia (apologies) did not find the sand with his tee shot and punches his second onto the front of the green. The Spaniard seems a little bit animated - his caddie could do with putting his arm round him and making a little 'shusssshing' sound in his ear. McGinley makes his putt from off the 3rd green to get back to three under.

1437: Garcia finds a fairway bunker with his tee shot at 2, but it's lying nicely and he'll be able to find the green from there. Plenty of players making their move, none more so than Australia's Richard Green who birdied 13 before curling in a monster at 14 to move to five under. DiMarco birdies 2 to move to four under, but the wind is taken out of Woods' sails as he records a bogey at 8 to drop back to two under.

1433: Stricker and Garcia both make par at 1. You have to think that Garcia needs no better than a 69 to win this, but that's easy for me to say slumped over a keyboard 500 miles away. McGinley of Ireland bogeys the second to slip back to two under.

1430: Garcia rolls his long putt at 1 to within a few feet of the hole - that should be a settling par. Woods finds the sand with his tee shot at the par-three 8th. England's Paul Broadhurst is getting up a head of steam - he's four under after a birdie at 2.

1425: Ernie's on a charge - he rolls in a 10-footer on 3 to move to five under and wihtin four of Garcia. Garcia finds the edge of the green with his second at the 1st and Stricker recovers well from the light rough, finding the heart of the green. England's Rose pours in a lengthy putt at 5 to move to two under.

1422: Here's the last pairing on the 1st tee and if Sergio does lift the Claret Jug this evening, he will do so looking like a giant mint - green shirt and snow white slacks for the Spaniard. Stricker is his partner and he hooks his tee shot just shy of a thicket off the fairway - he should have a shot in. Sergio pulls out a long iron and clips one straight down the middle. Argentina's Romero birdies 4 to move to four under.

1417: Afternoon everyone and here we are at the business end of the greatest show in golf. Don't know about you, but this is what I want on the last day of a major - plenty of birdies and players charging through the field rather than the last man standing affairs that were this year's Masters and US Open. Woods makes par at the par-five sixth to stay at three under.

By Sam Lyon

1416: Ernie Els moves to four under on the second hole with a fabulous putt and the South African is now just five off the lead. Paul Broadhurst, who fed off Els all of Saturday as well, repeats the feat with a fabulous putt of his own and the pair are off and running. And on that bombshell, with little time for tearful goodbyes, I must bid you adieu and hand you over to Ben Dirs for the business end of the day's play. Jubbly.

1413: Paul McGinley is a picture of relaxtion as he strides off the first tee following a fine tee shot. A little murmur among the office, with the diminutive Irishman's new adonis-like build the talk of the town. As one colleague put it - "I thought he was just a little fat bloke?". Apparently not, McGinley is looking fitter than a kwikfit fitter and in good shape to make a move.

1409: Ex-Gladiator Hunter Mahan moves to four under for the day with a birdie at the 11th and he is yet to bogey one today. Over on 18, Rory McIlroy sets himself up for a fitting finish to a fabulous week with a fine second shot that leaves him a few feet from the hole. He doesn't waste the chance and birdies for a round of 72 and he finishes five over - brilliant stuff. The snakebite and black will barely touch the sides for that young man in the 19th hole later.

1404: Ben Curtis is on fire at the moment, drilling in a putt from fully 30 feet for eagle on the 14th and the 2003 Open winner is six under for the day - that's how it's done folks.

"Just been for a walk and by jove I've got a sweat on. Probably because of BBC catering, but nevertheless it's balmy outside and�...someone's just bought a ice cream! All is right in the world. Just need Sergio to win now. Unbelievably El Nino's been driven from the course this week in a Vauxhall Corsa. No reports yet as to whether it had blacked out windows, dump valves or some Happy Hardcore pumping out of its sub-woofers. Get a proper car Serge."
BBC Sport's TV mole at Carnoustie

1356: Lovely second shot from Els, who sets up an early birdie chance with an approach to within a few feet of the hole. Over on the second, Jim Furyk slides in a lovely birdie to erase his opening-hole bogey and the players are starting to enjoy the brighter weather you feel.

"All this water is doing strange things to people this week. Sergio's frequent comfort breaks have already been the subject of much debate but I've just seen a sight to make my eyes water. A punter, slightly away from the course but in deep rough, clearly decided he couldn't make it to the nearest portaloo and apparently felt the rough was as high as it was in 1999. Suffice to say he wasn't as well covered as he clearly thought he was - a definite two-shot penalty in my book."
BBC Sport's Stuart Roach at Carnoustie

1352: England's best hope of victory here, Paul Broadhurst, spanks his opening tee shot down the middle of the fairway - decent start that. The bigger cheer is for Ernie Els, though, who makes the most of a brief pocket of sun and a lack of wind with a lovely drive. I was a big fan of Mr Els until I was informed that the South African is staying in St Andrews this week and is choppered into Angus every morning. How's that for a carbon footprint huh? Live Earth did not entertain literally dozens of people the other Sunday for the likes of Els to brazenly ignore its message during Open week. I'm outraged, I really am.

1345: An early glance at Sergio Garcia - and the Spaniard is indeed decked out like the Riddler, sporting a green top with white under-warmer thingymajig. Black waterproofs mask the trousers, but personally I'm hoping for white. The office sweep has kicked into swiftly into gear, with pink the early outsider...

1343: "Get in the hole!" For the last time, it's not big and it's not clever folks. If you shout it, all you are doing is signalling what an utter wally you are. Especially if the players are on a par-five tee. Still, Tiger Woods's third on the fourth does just that as he rolls in from eight feet and the American goes two under.

1342: Justin Rose, having bogeyed the first, makes amends immediately with a short birdie putt on the second. Bella Emberg, however, drops a shot on the second and the Swede falls back to one under.

1338: Mark Foster holes out on the 18th with a par and that's a round of 69 for the Englishman - there'll be a few of the leaders who might take that before their rounds get under way. Over on 14, Brian Davis sinks an absolute beauty, drilling in from 30 feet for an impressive eagle.

1332: Another hole ticks by without a birdie for Tiger Woods, the American pulling his long putt on the third inches left and it's par-par-par for him. The weather is improving by the second out there, with the rain now all but stopped it would seem. This is proven by shots of Paul McGinley performing an all-too seductive striptease on the practice range. Dougie Donnelly ploughs forth manfully and engages in a brief interview with the Irishman clutching onto his strides - always the professional.

"Just fulfilled a week-long ambition and strolled for a couple of holes with my new favourite golfer, Boo Weekley, who has now gone up even further in my estimations. Walking up the fifth fairway, he was enjoying the kind of chat with Adam Scott that you would usually see in a Sunday morning club game, when the pair were interrupted by a not unattractive blonde lady waving an Australian flag. "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; oi, oi, oi" she shouted, drawing a polite wave and smile from the slightly embarrassed Scott. "You got you some love", crowed Boo to his playing partner. Absolute legend."
BBC Sport's Stuart Roach at Carnoustie

1323: Does anyone else find it ridiculously annoying when Gary Lineker affects his best Spanish clear-your-throat hack when pronouncing Miguel Angel Jimenez's name? Yes Gary, we know you used to play for Barcelona, but give it a rest will you. Anyway, the Spaniard tees off nicely and he'll be one of those looking to get a few early birdies to pressure Sergio Garcia. Swede Pelle Edberg (who I have taken to referring to as Bella Emberg), meanwhile, gets off to a flier, sinking a beauty of a putt on the first to go two under.

1318: It'll be a very tricky third shot for Justin Rose at the first after his second shot from the rough finds sand. Ben Curtis on the other hand continues to roll in the birdies, picking up a shot at the 10th to go one under - he can't repeat his 2003 success from way back in the field surely? No is undoubtedly the answer, but I do love a commentator's curse so expect the American to bogey the next.

1311: Over on 13 Rory McIlroy ends a run of six straight pars with a fabulous birdie and he is having a whale of a time out there. Meanwhile, Justin Rose tees off at the first with a little bit of a wayward drive but it looks a decent enough lie off to the left. If you're an F1 fan by the way, you might want to check out the latest goings on from the Nurburgring with Sarah Holt - it's a really rather dramatic start over in Germany, that's all I'll say for all of those taping it for later.

1306: No dream start for Tiger Woods, who rolls his birdie chance at the first wide from 12 feet and that'll be a par. Playing partner Rich Beem kicks his round off with a double bogey - henceforth known as the 'schoolboy's choice' - and he slips back to one over.

1305: Slip up from Lee Westwood at the fifth as the Englishman three putts for bogey to drag him back to one over.

1301: Richard Green and Ben Curtis are showing the rest of the field how birdies can be made - picking up shots at the sixth and eighth respectively to each go three under for the day and Aussie Green, at one under, is the leader out on the course.

"If I was leading I would want it to be bright sunshine. I will have been playing well enough to lead so I wouldn't want conditions intervening and interrupting my rhythm. And Sergio Garcia might well enjoy the best of the conditions later, with the weather already brightening up. It might just be going his way."
BBC Sport pundit Sam Torrance

1256: Massive crowds surround the first tee as usual as Tiger Woods tees off with a straight drive down the fairway. He knows Championship golf inside and out and a fast start from him could well put the cat among the pigeons before Sergio even hits the course.

"The chocolate biscuits are doing the rounds in the studio (no one offered me one) while everyone looks pained at the state of the weather as the threat of being here tomorrow fills everyone with dread. But it is definitely looking brighter. We have been measuring the weather conditions this week in shades of grey and it's bright grey now. Happy days."
BBC Sport's TV mole at Carnoustie

"With the rains coming down, the course and the greens will be soft and while I think that makes the holes a little longer, it makes them a bit easier too. As for my compatriot Sergio Garcia, he is keeping calm, focused and is making his shots every time - with a three shot advantage, if he plays a solid round without silly mistakes, the Championship is in his hands."
Seve Ballesteros on BBC Sport

1243: Little update on a couple of the early home contingent out on the course - Belfast's Rory McIlroy bogeyed five and six but has otherwise impressed with all pars and he lies six over, England's Mark Foster has birdied the last two to go back to five over, while Alastair Forsyth has settled with pars on the last three and he remains 14 over.

1235: The rain is starting to ease a bit now, to the extent that Nick Dougherty has gone down to shirt-sleeves and no waterproof, and Lee Westwood makes the most of the improving conditions to two putt from off the green well and save par on the third. Over on the first, Zach Johnson goes agonisingly close to birdie but his putt lips out and he stays one over for the tournament.

1231: According to your texts it's brightening up nicely in Troon, Dundee and East Kilbride so the rains might just ease off soon. As it is, the green keepers are busy mopping, sopping and generally working their backsides off in the rain in a bid to clear up the growing number of puddles on the fairways and in the bunkers.

1227: Englishman Paul Casey makes the perfect start on the first, rolling home from 15 feet for birdie and he is level par for the Championship. Partner and countryman Nick Dougherty makes par and those two will be hoping to stride up the leaderboard today.

1226: Warm applause on the first tee as a rare old pairing in Masters champion Zach Johnson and US Open champion Angel Cabrera get going. Apparently famed smoker Cabrera will have to defend his title next year without the aid of the tabs as they will be banned on the course - expect a short temper and plenty of chewing gum throughout his rounds at that Championship.

1222: Great start from Lee Westwood, who escapes a bunker brilliantly with his second shot on two and holes out from 12 feet for a fabulous birdie. Australian Richard Green joins him at level par with consecutive birdies on two and three and, despite the dire weather, it's good to see shots are there to be picked up.

1211: Lee Westwood - one over overnight and out of the hunt you would think - secures par at the first, as does playing partner Retief Goosen. Ben Curtis draws himself alongside them with a birdie at the fifth to go two under for the day.

1208: The latest talk from Mark James on BBC commentary is that there could well be a delay if the rains continue as they are... we'll keep you posted.

"Just had a quick word with Hunter Mahan and his caddie before they set off into the pouring rain. "Looking forward to this?" I ask Hunter. 'Well, it could be worse.' 'Really?' 'No, maybe not.' His caddie John Wood was sporting a pair of natty shades, perched on his cap. 'Do you think they'll come in handy today?' I say. 'It's the optimist in me. I'm going to put them on at some point, even if it's only for 10 seconds.'"
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at Carnoustie

1202: Not much, hang on... make that nothing, is going Alastair Forsyth's way today. A bogey at the 14th sees him slip to eight over for the day, 14 over for the tournament, and all of this must be endured amidst near torrential rain. It's about as glamorous as hosting an over-80s disco for the hard of hearing at your local town hall.

"Ice cream van update - call off the hearse! I've seen the windscreen wipers going. Huzzah. But hang on, perhaps that's just a cry for help. If you are reading this ice cream van man/women/rotting corpse on our wonderful BBC Sport mobile service (check it out people) give me one sweep to let me know you are okay, two sweeps for help or three if the weather conditions this week have left you bankrupt."
BBC Sport's TV mole at Carnoustie

1158: Charley Hoffman is displaying no ill-effects from the terrible conditions, birdieing the fourth and the fifth to move to three under for the day, level par for the tournament. A quick glimpse of the ground staff using buckets in an attempt to empty a bunker of four foot of water on the fairway at the 18th. Forget that lads, get your water-wings on and get swimming.

1149: "Not for the first time, I'm with Kenneth on the pin-position conundrum. And I can't help thinking the R&A has got this one wrong. The scoring average on the course is nudging towards five over. What this tournament needs (if it is drama, you're after) is for somebody to make a charge. That ain't gonna happen if you tuck the flags behind bushes on 12% gradients. The rain isn't helping either. This could be all too easy for Sergio - shouldn't grumble, I suppose, I've been asking for a European winner for years and we'll all be in the Kinloch Arms by happy hour at this rate."
BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Carnoustie

1137: I tell you, conditions out there are such that you would almost certainly turn to your mates on the fourth tee and suggest an early pit-stop at the pub if it were you playing. It can be no fun digging around in the rough with rain reducing your well-coiffered mane to a mess. Miguel Angel Jimenez will be chewing nervously on his hair straighteners as we speak.

1132: Woohoo! Up go the cheers on the third as home favourite Ross Bain takes a birdie three to move to two over and that's a steady start from the big guy. Former Open winner Ben Curtis repeats the feat next up and that's a veritable flurry of birdies in relation to what's gone before.

1125: By the way, a few of you may have missed the fact that live golf is available on interactive on BBC so if Gary Lineker, Nick Faldo and Wayne Grady's lazy drawl does nothing for you, press the red button. I won't tell tales.

"The pin positions today will make it hard for the chasing pack to attack. Keep an eye on hole five - that will be very interesting today. If someone can do what Steve Stricker did yesterday then we could be in for an interesting finish. But Sergio knows how to defend; he can attack brilliantly but he can play defensive tee shots when he needs to."
BBC Sport's Ken Brown at Carnoustie

1121: Dustin's brother Charley Hoffman breaks the shackles on the second, taking a birdie to go one under for the day. Meanwhile, Scot Alastair Forsyth and American Sean O'Hair are battling it out for the worst round of the day, bogeying 11 and 12 respectively to go seven over for the day. And another home favourite Sandy Lyle is hot on their heels following a bogey, double bogey and triple bogey from his eight holes so far. The rain is playing absolute havoc.

"Police have found the ice cream seller on the 18th dead. He was covered in sprinkles, chopped nuts and strawberry sauce - they think he has topped himself."
Anon via text

"Here we are, on the final day at Carnoustie, and Sergio sits pretty at the top of the leaderboard. But which Garcia will turn up? Will he be the matador or a pussy cat?"
BBC Sport's Peter Alliss

"Hi Sam, I'm coverage free here in France but wanted to tell you I just dozed off on the settee and had a vivid dream of Sergio in lime green taking his socks off on the 18th fairway and standing staring at his ball in the water for about three minutes."
rambon on 606

1108: Make that no players below-par for the day out on the course - Mark Foster bogeys the sixth to go back to six over. Over on BBC Two Peter Alliss reminisces about the close-and-yet-so-far efforts of Europeans to win majors in recent years. Jean van de Velde, Thomas Levet, Thomas Bjorn, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia... all of them have been in contention coming down the stretch and all have thrown it away. A timely reminder, if one were needed, that Garcia still has it all to do on this final day.

1102: As my colleague Mark Orlovac - who looks after the top four paragraphs here, the leaderboard and is quite honestly the nicest man in showbiz - points out, Mark Foster is the only man out on the course who is under par for the day so far. That's 28 players out, one player sub-par. It looks like birdies will be at a premium, which is a shame for all you totty-watch enthusiasts out there. Ba dom boom boom... tish!

1054: The wonderfully named Arron Oberholser is now the leading player out on the course, the American kicking off with a par at the first to keep him three over. Rory McIlroy and Scott Verplank keep it nice and easy with pars at the second, but Alastair Forsyth is clearly keen to see as much of the Carnoustie course as possible before getting away later, taking another bogey at eight to fall to 12 over.

1041: Mark Foster's brisk start is interrupted by a bogey on the fifth and that sees him slip back to five over.

"I might have the answer to the question of Sergio's sartorial choice for Sunday. A course insider reliably informs me that he will be in green today. Or will it be his rivals for the claret jug that are green?"
BBC Sport's Stuart Roach at Carnoustie

1032: Big cheers over on the first tee as Rory McIlroy tees off his final round. What a weekend the Northern Irish youngster has had. It matters not that he looks like he's just stepped off the set of Grange Hill, the boy has a big future ahead of him. He comes through the first with a par, as does playing partner Scott Verplank.

"Sunlight. Could somebody remind me what it looks like? That poor ice cream van on the 18th fairway. My heart bleeds for the poor soul operating it. On many occasions when I have been absent mindedly staring out of the window I have thought, what if the person in there had died? How many days would it take before some finally went to order a Cornetto and found a mummified corpse behind the serving hatch? Blimey, I better go and find out - I don't want this on my conscience."
BBC Sport's TV mole at Carnoustie

"Well it would appear Sam's earlier information regarding the weather was straight from the Michael Fish school of weather forecasting. Apparently its now bouncing down."
Vorosh on 606

1027: Alastair Forsyth is struggling to give the home fans much to cheer this morning, taking a double bogey on the par five sixth to slip to four over for the day, 10 over for the tournament. I'm not entirely sure what he did on Friday night to celebrate two impressive rounds at Carnoustie, but it didn't do him any favours. Ten bogeys, a double bogey and only one birdie since then for the Scot - ouch.

"Morning Sam, I'm at work here in Holland. Have been since 0530 your time. My son is at the Grand Prix in Germany, hoping to see Lewis Hamilton take another podium. I've promised to keep him updated on the golf via text, so please keep me updated. Sergio has this one wrapped up Lock, Stock & 750,000."
Mikehuey on 606

1021: Gwan Mark Foster! Fresh from a dip in the pool (what, it's not the same one?), the multi-talented Englishman draws alongside the pack on four over with his second birdie of the day, this time on three. By the way - get Matt Slater and Rob Hodgetts below huh? Like an old married couple they are. I guess that's what a week sharing a room does to two strapping young men.

"Can you tell BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at Carnoustie that I have run to Monifieth and back already this morning and will now be heading to the High Street to find out if any players have bought the new Harry Potter book and to get us some Dundee Cake to accompany the tea that I expect to waiting on my desk when I arrive."
BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Carnoustie

1011: Rob Hodgetts is not the only one suffering at the moment - although I can't really comment as I've got the teas in about three times all week while pinching dozens off my colleagues at any and every opportunity - Peter Hanson is doing his best impression of a 12-year-old Scout and rooting out a bogey at every opportunity. The Swede drops a shot for the third hole in a row on seven and he now lies 11 over par.

"Can someone tell me where BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Carnoustie is. It's his turn to get the teas in."
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at Carnoustie

1003: While Luke Donald continues his struggles, barely snatching a par at the second, compatriot Mark Foster kicks his final round off with a birdie and he moves to five over par. He is joined by Anders Henson following the Dane's birdie three at the fourth, but his almost-namesake Peter Hanson is struggling further down the field, dropping his third shot of the day on six to slip to 10 over for the tournament.

"C'mon Sergio! Natural heir to the sadly retired Seve. Just hope he gets the wardrobe right."
Dunc via text

"The Beard Liberation Front has been on to us again, banging on about the scarcity of facial hair at the Open once more. Apparently, it's got something to do with the forces of conservatism that run golf. Anyway, with so few beards on show, the BLF has been forced to run a "clean-shaven" contest. It's a straight shoot-out between Els and Stricker. We'll let you know."
BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Carnoustie

0952: Luke Donald - embarrassingly my tip before the tournament began - gets his fourth round under way with a bogey at the first and that is now five bogeys in a row for the Englishman. It would appear he really went all out on his honeymoon with Diane Antonopoulos. Well you would I suppose.

"The rain is hammering down on the roof of the media tent and looks pretty set in for the day. Watching the first two groups tee off earlier, all nine over or above, I couldn't help wondering how enthused they were about the next four hours, which basically amounts to a fruitless, sodden hack around in the murk."
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at Carnoustie

0939: As well as stuffing my face with legal narcotics this morning, I've also been suffering all manner of comments about the pastel blue cardigan I'm wearing. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but all the cool kids of Essex are wearing 'em right? And it's slightly golf-esque as well so I feel I have logic and the Dagenhamistas on my side. Have it. Out on the course, Sandy Lyle and Thomas Bjorn kick off with pars at the first, while Alastair Forsyth is slipping away a bit following a bogey on two.

0931: Right, apologies for the rather subdued start to the day's proceedings but, frankly, I needed two teas and a bacon-sausage baguette to get me going. Despite the fact that I was in bed before 2200 BST last night - that's not right is it? Is that the onset of old age? Or an indication that my house-mates bore me rigid? Who knows. Anyway, it's a pretty subdued start out on the course as well, American Kevin Stadler the front-runner out among the holes at the moment on six over after birdieing four.

0923: South African Trevor Immelman has got off to a steady enough start, birdieing two and taking pars at one, three and four, but Mark O'Meara's birdie start was erased by a dropped shot at the third. Scotland's Alastair Forsyth kicks off his round with a par.

"The pick of the opening pairings has to be O'Meara and Immelman. Let's hope, with the pressure off and the weather favourable, they can give us early risers something exciting to follow."
Gary Clare via text

0911: "The big chat in town last night concerned Sergio's last-day wardrobe. Would he go for the Spanish-themed colour scheme of Saturday, Real Madrid white or shamelessly play to the galleries in blue and white with tartan tam o'shanter and ginger fright wig? Any of those would be preferable to last year's "I'm a lemon" ensemble. Others wondered how many spectators the players could knock over today."
BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Carnoustie

For more from the one and only Mr Slater, check out 606 and get chatting...

0901: Mark O'Meara's not the only one making a charge - England's Jon Bevan roars back to just 11 over with a birdie three at the third. Come on son, keep the faith and all that. Fredrik Andersson Hed's problems continue, however, the Swede bogeying the same hole to slump to the same score. At least they will both be done early enough to catch 'Flog it!' on BBC Two later. If that can be seen as a bonus of course.

0849: Mark O'Meara gets his Open charge firing, shooting a birdie at the first to leap up to eight over - only 17 more shots to be made up on Garcia's overnight mark, then.

0838: Fredrik Andersson Hed does not get off to the ideal start, struggling to shake off the Sunday morning blues and taking a bogey five at the first. There is already a decent amount of die-hards out in force at Carnoustie, though whether they've just arrived or whether they have been here all night dancing on the laughing juice is not clear as yet.

"I would love to see Sergio win his first major, he is a great player and was brilliant in the Ryder Cup. That said it is far from over. Bring it on."
happydon on 606

"Eight non Major winners in the first 9 places on the leaderboard. 2007 is becoming the year for first time Major winners. Tiger is having a year off."
Golfbug on 606

0827: A little look at the weather - it's forecast to be bright with only the odd shower, so there should be plenty of birdie opportunities out there.

0815: And so it all comes down to this. Europe has been starved of a major winner since 1999 - Scot Paul Lawrie's own triumph on this Carnoustie course - and here we are, with just 18 holes remaining... and Sergio Garcia is on the brink.

The Spaniard, yet to break his major duck, has enjoyed four top 10 finishes on the tour this year but has not secured a victory in almost two years. Still, in true Europhile fashion, Garcia certainly has the backing of the British masses and wouldn't it just be great to see the 27-year-old do it. I only hope he puts his parrot-esque red and orange outfit of Saturday to one side today - should he win he won't want to be looking at pictures of himself dressed like a wally in 10 years time.

England's Jon Bevan and Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed will get us started at 0820, with the main players not due out until later in the day. In the meantime don't forget to get your texts (81111) and chat on 606 coming in. If only to assure me I'm not the only nutter up bright and breezy at stupid o'clock on Sunday morning...