Harrington's round faded from three under to two over |
Padraig Harrington was left wondering what might have been after failing to capitalise on a flying start to his third round in the US Open. The Irishman played the first six holes in three under but slipped away in the later stages to finish with a 72 that left him three over for the tournament.
A disappointed Harrington, who had been expected to lead the European challenge, said: "I needed to put in a very good one and didn't do that, so I'm just playing for my pride tomorrow.
"I was quite happy and felt good about my game, but then I missed some fairways and that killed me.
"Also, I've putted very poorly and that's the crux. If you can't make birdies the bogeys really hurt.
"It's just one of those weeks. I was putting great a month ago and terrible this week."
Justin Rose was another European who failed to make the most of a promising start at Olympia Fields.
The US Open debutant birdied three of the first five, only to hand the strokes back for a level par round of 70 and an aggregate of one over.
"I was much more solid off the tee today, but three-putted the 10th and hit a bad seven-iron on the 11th," Rose said.
 Same as most days - I'm just not very good right now Colin Montgomerie on his one-over 71 |
"At least I don't panic any more - that's one good thing and half the battle. My patience was good again."
Darren Clarke got to three under after birdies at the sixth and seventh, the latter almost a hole-in-one, but he too failed to sustain his form and bogeyed the last two holes to finish at one over.
"You can't get it done with 34 putts," he said.
"I didn't play as well as the first two days, but I gave myself more chances - very strange.
"But I didn't make anything and I think tomorrow I will close my eyes and hit it. I had my opportunities to be right in the thick of it, but once again I have not taken them."
Colin Montgomerie was in plain-speaking mode after failing to make any impression among the early starters.
"Same as most days - I'm just not very good right now," was the Scot's verdict on a one over par 71, which left him four over for the championship and miles away from being in contention.
"Missing two cuts in a row was not the best preparation to say the least and my objective on the plane over was to play all four rounds. I fulfilled that - just."
Londoner Brian Davis - five under after four on Thursday and leading - did not have a happy time either, dropping to seven over with a 74.
A seven at the long sixth sent him on a downward spiral and he finished with three bogeys.
"A few bad drives cost me dear and I missed four putts from inside four feet," he said.
MMIX
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