As It Happened - The Open Day 3

Follow live scoring and text commentary on day three of The Open here on RTÉ.ie. Text commentary provided by Brendan Cole and Rory Houston.
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LIVE LEADERBOARD - THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 3

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ROUND 3 - TEXT COMMENTARY (Press F5 for latest)

19.27 Rory will be back from bright and early with the final day's play. Till then.......

19.24 Ross Fisher greets Tom near the scorer's hut: 'Well played mate' says the Englishman.

Watson and Goggin will go out together, with Fisher and Westwood in the the next group and Goosen and Furyk in the one after.

19.21 Is Torrance aiming to jinx Watson - 'I think he'll hole it', he says of his fifty footer.

Gets very close, but not quite in.

Marino's putt is tricky and he gives it plenty of respect. Rolls it in to a huge roar and he's back to one over - two birdies to finish with a 76.

Watson then nudges his putt in to another massive roar.

And Tom Watson leads the Open.

19.18 Marino's wedge is brilliant - high over the little hill and it bounces up towards the flag. He'll have about five feet for birde. Aggressive stuff from him and, as with much of Turnberry, this pair are showing that there's more than one way to play 18.

19.17 Watson has about 190 to the green and he hits a sensible shot to the right hand side, nowhere near the hillock that caught out Westwood.

Strategy-wise, Watson has never been in danger on this hole.......

19.12 On the 18th tee, Watson's shot is well struck with a hybrid and in ideal position on the right hand side of the fairway - shot in to the flag is on from there.

Marino whips out driver and takes on the bunkers on the left and gorse on the right and he finishes a long way down the hole with a superb strike.

19.07 There's tension in a certain commentary box - 'Auntie's' we'll call it. Sam Torrance is describing Tom Watson as a 'rash' who 'won't go away' but the commentator in chief - Peter Alliss - shushes him and embarks on a typically elegiac riff.

Some vauge memories and a bit of google remind me what it's all about - Torrance and Watson clashed in 1993 at the Ryder Cup, when Watson refused to sign a menu for Torrance (reason: I would have to sign everyone's menu then!)

Anywho......Marino misses his eagle effort - just - but he gets his birdie and remains on two over.

Watson's effort misses - very close - just on the high side but he finishes on four under.

'I hope he continues it tomorrow' says Sam......and he even sounds like he means it too!

19.03 251 yards from the flag. 'This club here?; says Tom to his caddy, pulling some lumber.

Watson then bangs a superb shot to the right of the green that takes a lovely bounce to the left and into the heart of the green - 20 feet for eagle for him.

Marino hits a four iron and it is also a brilliant shot. Right at the flag, it rolls by and ends up about 10 feet past Watson's.

19.00 Fisher's putt is well paced but holds to the left of the hole all the way. He finishes on three under and in the joint lead with Goggin and Watson.

18.59 On 17, Watson takes driver and bends down to pick up his tee with the ball still high in the air. Looks good - down the left hand side.

18.58 Marino misses his tap in.......another shot gone.

18.56 Fisher's approach to 18 from 191 yards with 8 iron gets about as close as possible - 15 feet for birdie and the lead.

Over on 16, Watson's putt goes in.....keeps happening! 20 feet or so and he's back to three under with the par five to come.

18.55 Watson is on the 16th green. Marino has a long putt for a three having hit a bunker off the tee and chipped out. The putt just misses and it's another shot gone.

18.53 Goosen's putt is a little longer but he pops it in and is one behind with the final round to come.

18.51 Fisher's tee shot on 18 is perfect - down the middle.

Jimenez putt to go to +2 is pushed and short and he finishes on three over.

18.48 Fisher holes out and is now in the lead on three under.

Up on 18, Goosen's putt from off the green to get into the joint lead runs just past the hole. 18 inches for a 71 and -2 in the tournament. He had a seven at the seventh too.......

On 16, Watson's 8 iron (not long, I know) is well struck and ends up in the heart of the green.

18.44 Watson sends a three wood bounding down the sixteenth fairway. Super shot but he'll still have a job beating old man par on this one with a long iron into a back pin to come .

Fisher's eagle effort just misses but he has a tap in birdie to come and will go to three under and the joint lead.

Goosen's approach shot on 18 is long and trickles over the back to just about where Googin ended up.

Jimenez - +3 - bangs one at the flag and gets it to within 15 feet.

18.42 Marino misses his double bogey effort and drops back to one over. A triple......

18.40 Goosen's long iron tee shot goes right on 18 but it is in short rough and he'll have a shot.

Watson's putt just misses, veering across the front of the hole. Goggin is in the lead on his own with Watson back to -2.

On 17, Fisher has a dig out of the short rough and gets on. Well beyond the hole but looking like a birdie at least.

18.39 Watson's bunker shot checks up after he pops it out. Only got two thirds of the way to the hole and he'll have 15 feet for par.

Marino's chip is also moderate and he has about the same for a double.

18.37 Jimenez can only par 17 having driven poorly and he remains becalmed. Goosen's eagle chance is good!!!!!

He's back to two under, one back, having played rather badly for quite some time.

18.35 Goosen has hit a smashing drive and brilliant five iron to give himself an eagle chance on 17 - 15 feet or so.

Marino's wedge to the green ends up over the green - just - and he'll have to up and down for a five. Still, at least he's in the greater greenside area......'sorry for the delay' he says, and it's hard not to feel sorry for him.

18.32 Marino has opted to take an unplayable lie and he is backing up quite some way........now lieing two but with a very tough shot to come.

18.30 Marino seems determined to play from a near impossle lie - thick and with a near vertical slop to play off........

Kiboya's long putt ends up just short and he will finish on +2.

Fisher's putt is good and he is now two under - big roar from the crowd - with the par five 17th to come he could finish the day in front.......

Singh's putt just misses and he is also +2.

18.28 A Marshal has found Marino's ball - don't think the TV pictures helped! - but he has a very nasty shot coming up.

Singh and Kiboya are on the 18th green. Kiboya is +2 and, I think, on in regulation while Singh will need to hole a putt of reasonable difficulty - 10 feet - to stay at one under having wedged on from 90 yards.

18.25 Still no sign of Marion's ball, though TV replays are now being used to help locate it. Is that allowed!? Fair!?

Not to worry......

Ross Fisher is on 16 and after a massive drive his wedge shot ends up just 10 feet - maybe a touch more - left of the flag. Birdie chance.

18.22 Jimenez and Goosen not having much fun. Goosen has to hole a three foot short one to stay at level par and he's dropped four shots or so in the last hour.

Marino's ball is proving tough to locate and he may have to make a trip back to the tee.........

18.19 The leaders are on 15. Marino launches a horrific shot - high and left - and it ends up in an awful spot. Short sides himself and will have to find a miracle shot to make par - bogey will be a result.

Tom Watson draws his six iron to the front of the green but it bounces of a little forward facing hill and ends up rolling long and into the bunker over the back. He'll have plenty green to work with........

18.17 Fisher makes his par and is still on one under. Calcavecchia also does so, but had to hole a four footer to get it and is on +1, five over for the day.

Jimenez - on +1 - hits a poor shot into 16 and ends up in what the Scots call the 'burn'........the little river that runs along the front of the green.

18.13 Watson takes his putter and does quite poorly - it jumped in the air and went well left of the flag and good bit too far. 20 feet for par.

On the par three fifteenth, Fisher hits a shot over the flagstick that bounces on a touch and he'll have maybe 40 feet for birde.

Calcavecchia's shot takesa different route, rolling up the front of the green but it ends up hitting Fisher's ball.......Fisher will replace his ball.

Marino misses his put from 80 feet and will have four feet to negotiate for par.

Watson holes!!!!!!! More like 15 feet and that keeps things going. Big smile from the 59 year old.

18.11 Westwood holes out from under two feet to finish on two under. Pity about the finish, but he is right there for what would be a deserved first Major.

4/1 now. Any takers?

On 14, both Watson and Marino leave long approach shots short hitting into a strong breeze. They're on the short stuff though and will have to chip and putt again to stay where they are.

Fisher's now on one under by the way.

18.08 Fisher's putt just misses - he drops a shot.

18.05 Westwood has to get up and down to more than likely be in the leading group or thereabouts; Stewart Cink has hit the middle of the green.

Westwood's first effort goes nowhere - stays at his feet to moans from the crowd. For those with long memories, this is in around the Parnevik area - where the Swede hit it to let Nick Price in back in 199.......4 or 5 or something.

Westwood plays a lovely shot second time round, popping it up with a wristy swing of his wedge to get within a couple of feet - will be a five at best though.

Over on 14, Ross Fisher has played a poor chip shot that just skirted round a bunker and onto the green. Flag still a mile away.

18.03 Lee Westwood's price will surely drift a touch after he dumps his approach to 18 into the thickly covered ridge in front of the green......'did it pop over' he asks Billy Foster......'fraid not.

18.02 Tom Watson is still 12/1 to win this Open believe it or not......more wind tomorrow makes it a tempter!

Lee Westwood is favourite on 5/2, with Ross Fisher next (15/2) - what if he leaves? - with Jim Furyk (-1) close behind on 8/1.

17.59 Westwood's belts a perfect drive down 18.

On fourteen, Ross Fisher (-2) has a long shot into after a moderate drive and he ends up pulling it a touch to the left.

Calcavecchia's woes continue - he's in a bunker on 14.

Watson's putt was a four footer - his least fave distance these past few years - but he rolled it in well. Marino's putt missed and he stays on two under.

17.58 Calcavecchia, Jimenez and Goosen are the men taking on water. Calcavecchia is back to level par, along with Jimenez. Goosen is now on one under.

Watson's chip ends up close to the hole and it looks like another par.

17.57 Westwood's eagle effort on 17 ends up close to the hole - he used a putter from off the green - and he now joins Goggin and Watson at three under.

17.56 Watson's approach to 13 is a punchy effort that ends up in a hollow below the green - front left. Marino's nine iron is high and handsome - 25 feet left of the flag.

Goggin's chip is stone dead and he'll set the target after a round of 69 - clubhouse lead is -3.

17.51 Westwood is on the par five seventeenth and playing a long shot blind. He's pretty unhappy but it ends up running down the fairway and close to the green. Chip and putt for birdie on the par five......

Goosen's third at fourteen is pretty good but ends up running a good 15 feet past the hole and he'll have that for par.

17.51 Marino and Watson are on 13. Marino takes a long iron and puts it down the right hand side of the fairway. Good position, but a fair way back - about 155 yards to the pin.

Watson also takes iron and smacks his down the middle; it bounces left on the slanted fairway and ends up just behind Marino's.

Goggin's shot into the 18th green looks just like coming up short but catches a big bounce and ends up running over the back from where he will have to chip and putt to stay on -3.

17.48 Just after Marino's miss, Matthew Goggin, the joint-leader with Watson, launches a good tee shot down 18.

Over on 14, Retief Goosen tries a clever four iron into the wind but hangs it out the right to leave himself a very tough pitch from right of the green without much green to work with.

17.47 Jim Furyk has also finished on -1 after a 70. Marino's stint in the leading group ends when he misses a four footer on 12 after pitching up to the green.

17.45 Tom Watson is on 12 and still up but faced with a difficult two putt from just off the green, he has a six footer to stay at four under but just misses it right to go to three under and tied with Goggin and Marino.

On 18, Angel Cabrera has finished the day by rollin in a monster putt for a four three finish to end the day on +1 - bang there in other words.

17.42 Rory Houston has left the building leaving myself, Brendan Cole, to finish out the day.

17.40 Monster putt from Lee Westwood on 16 goes just short for birdie. He goes to the par five 17 now. Two shots behind Watson.

17.36 Fisher misses the par putt. He goes back to two under, Mark Calcavecchia is alongside him after a great saving putt.

17.34 Cancel that, Steve Marino goes to three under with a birdie. Tremendous character from Marino.

17.33 Fisher has a long putt for par now. Tom Watson's lead will go back to two shots if Fisher misses.

17.32 Ross Fisher face a tricky third shot at the par four 12th, he's in the rough on the green. Definitely no birdie chance anyway at last!

17.29 Tom Watson comes close to a birdie once again at 11. He has to accept a par, but at least there is no danger of bogeys.

17.26 Thongchai Jaidee put himself on track for his best finish yet in a major tournament after firing an impressive third round 69

The Thai star played superbly in an outward nine of 32.

Bogeys on the 10th, 14th and 16th pegged him back but a birdie four on the long 17th ensured he finished at level par for the tournament.

'I putted very well on the front nine but not so well on the back nine -- too many three putts,' he said.

'I hit 15 greens which was very good in this wind. I was hitting the ball well from the tee and the fairways.'

17.21 Retief Goosen in the bunker at 12. He comes up short and will do well to save par.

17.19 Ross Fisher goes close once more. Monster putt across the 11th green and nicks the cup again. He's threatening Watson's lead.

17.17 Very unlucky for Tom Watson. So close to a birdie but it just shaves the cup. He's still in the lead thanks to that par.

17.14 Pars for Lee Westwood and Matthew Goggin. Westwood is looking in great shape now. Great credit to Steve Marino. He looked as if he has out of things after a shocking start but he has a birdie chance to go within one of Tom Watson again.

17.05 It is very tight now on our leaderboard. Tom Watson finds the fairway from the 10th, Jimenez is just off the green on 11 while Ross Fisher, who has seemed to have a birdie chance at almost every hole today, has to make do with par at 10.

17.04 Sorry Tom, bit of a jinx on you there. He misses the par putt to return to four under. Watson now only leads by one.

17.02 MA Jimenez with a bogey at the 10th hole to drop back to one under.

17.00 Tom Watson has a tester at nine for a par. He's looking in great form so far this round. Many believe he does not have the stamina to survive the signs are good at the minute.

16.53 Ernie Els has shot a 72 to go to three under for the tournament. Justin Leonard joins him on that score with a 73. Camilo Villegas is two over for the day after 15, one over altogether. Ross Fisher comes so close to a birdie at nine but it nips the cup and stays out. Boo Weekley, Martin Kaymer and JB Holmes are also on one over.

16.50 Mark Calcavecchia strikes the green but the ball does not hold and goes off the green. The American is going steadily without grabbing too much attention.

16.48 First birdie of the day for Lee Westwood to go to two under par.

16.46 Tom Watson for a birdie at eight. Just to the right of the hole and that'll be a par.

16.45 Magnificent approach from Lee Westwood at 12. He has an easy opportunity to go to two under.

16.42 Double bogey for Kuboya sees him drop off the leaderboard. Jim Furyk is one under after 13 and Retief Goosen and Miguel Angel Jimenez look set for a par at nine.

16.39 With Watson going to five under, it leaves Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley seven shots off the lead. Hopefully Tom Watson won't be so prolific!

16.36 Stewart Cink is one under after 11 holes.

16.32 Eagle for Steve Marino to go back to two under par.

16.30 Matthew Goggin does indeed make a birdie. As does Tom Watson after his eagle putt at seven comes up short. He leads by two now!

16.28 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who finished joint runner-up at the Scottish Open last Sunday after saying he wanted his dog found in Malaga more than he wanted to win at Loch Lomond, has got his wish.

'She turned up at a golf course - very dirty,' said the Spaniard after a third round 73 in The Open put him four over for the tournament.

'I need to give her a good wash, but it's great news.'

The Shar-Pei named Petra ran away from the golfer's mother-in-law's house after being scared by fireworks and was missing for five days before being discovered on Wednesday.

16.27 Double bogey for Henrik Stenson at the last ruins a lot of his good work today. A 71 leaves him on two over.

16.23 Matthew Goggin with a great approach at 11, he could move to two under in a minute. Ross Fisher with a birdie putt at seven..........just a pit too firm.

16.22 Unheralded American Bryce Molder rolled in a series of long putts to recover from a poor start to take the early clubhouse lead on level par.

'You need a little bit of luck but I made the putts when I needed to,' the 30-year-old told reporters after compiling a three-under 67 for a total of 210.

'I made three 25-footers.

'It didn't start off looking like a 67. I struggled a little bit early and I told my caddie on number seven I'm not doing anything right.

'I wanted to play well but I wanted to just enjoy the experience of being here and that was the goal,' he said.

'I will enjoy tonight ... and wake up with some nerves and with trouble eating tomorrow.'

16.20 Kuboya does drop a shot at the eighth.

16.19 It is more work to update the leaderboard that the text at the moment!

16.18 Add to that, Kuboya in the bunker at eight. Very tricky bunker, will do well to save par. It is a double bogey for Retief Goosen.

16.15 Tom Watson drops his first stroke of the day, it was unlucky actually and he goes to four over. If only Graeme McDowell or Paul McGinley had not let one or two of those dropped shots occur earlier, they would be a fine state for tomorrow.

16.14 Retief Goosen takes a one stroke penalty. His fifth shot as such now and he is left with a long, tricky putt for bogey.

16.13 Matteo Manassero, the amateur from Italy, shoots a 72 to go to three over. Fastastic achievement, already guaranteed the silver medal as the only remaining amateur.

16.10 The spectators come up trumps again and find Retief Goosen's ball. Not sure if it is playable though......

16.06 Steve Marino loses two shots and he is gone from our leaderboard. It is worth checking out now, and with Retief Goosen in deep trouble at seven, it is going to change fast again. He's in the thick rough at seven, wait to take his fourth shot......if he can find his ball that is.

LEADERBOARD

16.05 Rory McIlroy began the day three over and needed a good round to edge himself closer to the top 10 but bogeys on his opening three holes put paid to that straight away.

However, he arrested the slide and finished with three successive birdies to show that when he is on his game anything is possible.

'I didn't get off to the best starts; I just didn't hit the fairways and put myself behind the eight ball,' he said.

'I was five over through five and then I held it together. From the sixth onwards I was one under.

'I was pretty happy with the way I finished and if I can go out tomorrow and play like I did the last nine holes today I could shoot a good score.

'I finished 42nd in my first Open Championship and if I can shoot a good one and finish better - maybe in the top 20 or 30 - then I feel I will have done well considering how I have played this week.

'Today I have hit some of the best shots I have all year and some of the worst ones. I just need to bring it all together.'

16.04 Stupendous from Kuboya at 7. His shot goes past the hole but rolls back down the hill, only inches from the hole.

16.02 Tom Watson rolling back the years to save par. His putting is keeping him in the lead at the moment.

16.01 Bryce Molder and Thongchai Jaidee will be happy with their level par scores in the clubhouse the way things are going. They are the clubhouse leaders at this very early stage. Barely worth mentioning but because of the scores it is relevant!

15.59 Great shot from the bunker from Tom Watson, clears the top of the bunker by inches and rolls past hole, too far really! Excellent.

15.58 Ross Fisher in the bunker at six...

15.56 It is proving very difficult for Steve Marino. He has to get up and down for another bogey at five. More than likely it will be a double with the way he is playing. MA Jimenez makes a bogey at six....players on one under par will make their way onto the leaderboard soon.

15.55 Poor putt from Retief Goosen off the green at six. Left with a tricky one for par now, maybe seven feet.

15.54 Surprising miss from Ross Fisher. Looked to be an easy putt for par. Back to three under....

15.53 Daniel Gaunt loves the extremes, a 76 on the first day was followed by a 67 yesterday and today's 79 leaves him in last place. Amazing.

15.52 A bogey for Graeme McDowell at the last gives him a 71 and two over par going into tomorrow. He had six birdies today, a missed opportunity perhaps.

15.51 73's for Andres Romera and Davis Love III leave them at five over.

15.50 No birdies for Camilo Villegas yet today.....he stays at one over after 11

15.48 David Howell is three over after a 72...

15.47 Three bogyes in a row for Steve Marino....back to two under.

15.46 Thongchai Jaidee cards a 69 to go level par for the tournament....

15.45 Tom Watson will make par at the fourth and, after a terrific bunker shot, so should Marino. Retief Goosen stays one shot behind Watson......

15.42 MA Jimenez finds the bunker on five but majestically chips in from off the green. The ball curls right into the middle of the hole to wild acclaim from the Turnberry spectators.

15.41 Birdie for Graeme McDowell at 17 to go to one over par. Great stuff from the Portrushe man.

15.39 Calcavecchia with a good par at four.

15.38 Tom Watson does save his par though, great recovery considering hitting the bunker from the tee.

15.37 Steve Marino does indeed drop a shot to fall to three under.

15.35 Lee Westwood at seven, in the rough with his second shot at the par five and it goes into the spectator. Ross Fisher is flying, a par on four for the Englishman.

15.34 Steve Marino gives himself a good chance of saving his par, but it will be tricky putt. Tom Watson's shot is spectacular, landing on the edge of the green and leaving him an eight-footer for par. Hard to judge the direction and power neccessary, however.

15.32 Tom Watson gouges the ball back to the fairway from the bunker. Steve Marino does the exact same, the leaders pay the penalty and refuse to take the risk by only laying up....

15.31 Richard Johnson cards a 69 to finish on one over. Excellent day for the Swede....

15.29 Par for Jimenez at four. Birdie for Ross Fisher so that's a four-four-three start and he goes to four under!

15.28 More from the Irish. First Padraig Harrington:

'The swing is always going to be a work in progress. You never have anything in the golf swing forever but I am positive enough. I struck the ball well, I just need to trust it a bit more.'

After the glory of his back-to-back wins at Carnoustie two years ago and Royal Birkdale last year, Harrington insisted he would have no trouble waking up on Sunday morning to play what will effectively be a meaningless final round.

'That's professional golf,' he said. 'I play close to 30 events a year, in a good year there are 26 weeks when I get up on a Sunday morning and it's like that.'

15.27 Tom Watson in the bunk from tee number three, while James Kingston drops a shot to leave MA Jimenez on his own at two under. Steve Marino finds the same bunker as Watson......the leaderboard could look very different soon.....

15.25 Steve Marino has to make do with a bogey, with Tom Watson making par it leaves the 59-year-old as sole leader now.

15.22 Six-footer for a par for Watson to follow. Marino will go first with a much longer putt........

15.19 Par for Paul McGinley at the last. It gives a 70 and he stays at two over par. That is a tie for 28th at the moment but expect that to improve as the days go on.

15.18 Six iron at the second for Tom Watson. Good approach, likely a two-putt for a par. Marino, meanwhile, finds the rough to the left of the green.

15.15 Mark Calcavecchia drops a shot at the second. Retief Goosen on his own in second now.

15.14 Keep the comments coming please folks!

sportonline@rte.ie

15.13 Hopefully he can follow Paul McGinley and birdie 17! They are both on two under now.

15.11 Huge blow for Graeme McDowell - double bogey. Hit the ball way to hard when only a few feet away. He's still well position but it could have been so much better today. Three holes left....

15.10 Par on the first for our leaders. Everyone is underway now and the leaderboard has changed a lot in the last few minutes.

15.09 Rory McIlroy does not believe he is ready to win a major yet but wants to change that in the next couple of years.

The 20-year-old was among the favourites to win the Open at Turnberry this week but a third-round 74 ended any distant hopes of that.

Asked if being one of the pre-tournament favourites had been detrimental McIlroy replied: 'No, because the favourite missed the cut so I have done better than him.

'I knew coming in here there were a lot of guys who had a better chance of winning this tournament than me.

'I still feel it is too early for me to win a major. I have a lot of improving to do and maybe in a couple of years' time I can talk about it.'

15.06 Miguel Angel Jimenez drops a shot at the second to back to two under. Retief Goosen goes one behind the leaders on four under par, leaving us two players on three under. Leaderboard now includes Stewart Cink who goes to two under after four.

15.03 Padraig Harrington has thrown in the towel in his bid to complete a historic hat-trick of British Open titles after a third round 76 left him out of contention at Turnberry.

'Basically there were too many putts -- three three-putts and a few other mental errors,' he said. 'Certainly it was not a very tidy round at all.

'Obviously I needed things to go well for me and hole a few putts today but it just didn't happen.

'I knew the mental side was going to be an issue. I was just poor today. I made the wrong decisions. You need to be feeling on top of the golf course and I have felt a little bit behind the 8 ball all week.

Harrington's slump in form has coincided with him attempting to change his swing in the belief that it will, in time, give him a better chance of landing more major titles.

'Possibly this week could help me as far as the PGA is concerned,' he said. 'I am certainly happy with my ball striking, not so happy with the mental side of my game. That needs to be tidied up going forward.

'But I'm looking forward now to a couple of weeks off, doing a little more work and getting ready for the PGA.'

14.57 Lee Westwood dropped a shot on the third to go back to one under par.

14.56 Bold shot from Ross Fisher at the first and it pays off. Best place possible for a putt on the first green. Slightly downhill, he'll be confident of making a birdie.

14.55 Birdie for Graeme McDowell at 14 to go back to level par. He's only five shots off the leaders now and who knows how they will fair in the tricky early holes?

14.54 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano was my outside tip this morning but he has dropped four shots today to go to five over.

14.50 Paul McGinley on the 17th now.

14.47 Great fun predicting the winner of golf tournaments. A friend of mine believes he has some sort of gift and pick the winner at the start of every major. Of course this isn't true, backed up by the fact he tipped Rory McIlroy two days ago.

An e-mail yesterday morning proclaimed he would predict the winner at 16.30 and it duly arrived....it was Ross Fisher, with the Englishman fourth on the leaderboard at the time. What a bold prediction, eh?

Anyway, Fisher has teed off and we await Steve Marino and 59-year-old Tom Watson now.....

14.46 Paul McGinley drops a shot at 15. If he can finish the final three holes in one or two under, it would be an interesting day tomorrow. Miguel Angel Jimenez finds deep rough from the first.

14.43 Rejoice....it has taken nearly five hours but finally, thanks to Kenichi Kuboya, the top of the leaderboard has changed.

The link to it will remain above the latest text update all day but this is a beauty so I'll make it even easier.

Leaderboard.

14.40 Sergio is one over after four holes. joined by Graeme McDowell who has dropped a shot. Henrik Stenson is on the same score after 11 along with Justin Rose and Leonards

Camilo Villegas is two over through five holes in a disappointing start for the Columbian.

In-form Martin Kaymer has also dropped a shot at the start. As has Vijay Singh, he goes to two under before I could even change the leaderboard!

14.37 Matthew Goggin, Stewart Cink, Lee Westwood and James Kingston are underway now, all on two under. The leaders are beginning their rounds now.

14.34 Darren Clarke finishes with two more lost strokes to go to 10 over.

14.25 Darren Clarke has dropped a shot to move back to eight under. Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley are progressing nicely, McDowell remains on level par after 11 holes. It is a great position to be in.

14.20 Rory McIlroy does indeed make a birdie at the last. He opened with three bogeys, finished with three birdies, picked uo and eagle and more dropped shots too in quite a dramatic round. He finished on seven over.

14.17 Sean O'Hair and Kenny Perry at the latest to finish. Both are eight over after 75's.

14.13 Great shot from Rory McIlroy from the short stuff. He has a excellent chance for birdie at 18. A bogey at that hole would leave him paired with Harrington tomorrow but he has seven over in his sights now........

14.12 There is a huge following for Lee Westwood today. He finds the fairway at the first......

14.11 Luke Donald is 'not surprised at all' 59-year-old Tom Watson is leading the Open - and Paul Casey thinks it would be 'fantastic' if the American went on to win.

'I've always thought he was a great ball-striker,' said Donald after a third-round 70 kept him at three over.

'What most impressed me was, in a left-to-right wind, he could draw the ball and hold it perfectly,' added Donald. 'We've had a lot of that here and obviously he's got a huge amount of talent.'

Casey, the current world number three and therefore the highest-ranked player left in following Tiger Woods' exit and Phil Mickelson's absence, managed only a 74 and dropped to eight over.

On Watson and 49-year-old Mark Calcavecchia being in contention for the Claret Jug, Casey commented: 'It's about controlling yourself and controlling the ball and those guys still have supreme skills. It's great to watch.'

The Surrey golfer, three times a winner this year, dropped four shots in the first five holes to dash any hopes of getting back into the title race.

'A very difficult course on a very difficult day,' was his assessment. 'If you don't have control of your ball and try to guide it in any way you're going to be penalised.

'I love the course - I just wish I was playing better. It just beats you up.'

14.09 Padraig Harrington's birdie at the first was as good as things got. A double bogey and five singles made for a diasterous day for the Dubliner.

14.05 Incredible. Two birdies in a row moves Rory McIlroy eight under approaching the last, one ahead of Padraig Harrington who makes a par at 18 to finish a very poor round.

14.04 A man clutching two pints shows his appreciation of Lee Westwood as he approaches the tee by roaring slogans at him.

14.03 Mark Calcavecchia reveals his preperations this morning:

2 naps, two breakfasts and watching golf on television.

I think I want him to win now.....

14.01 Graeme McDowell's approach at 10 misses the green. He'll do well to avoid another bogey, poor shot really as it is one of the easiest greens to reach on the course.

13.59 One of the most important updates of the day: Ross Fisher's wife reveals she does not think she will go into labour before the end of the tournament. Fisher has stated he will pull out if she does so I bet he hopes her prediction is spot on!

13.56 RTÉ's Greg Allen gives an update on the course conditions

'These are great conditions for links golf. As tough as this course looks, it was only ripped apart on Thursday because it was flat calm but yesterday and today there has been enough breeze to make accurate judgement of distance a major part of any player's strategy. And anybody having a poor ball striking day will really struggle. Harrington and McIlroy are both off their games today and getting severely punished.'

Thanks for that Greg.

13.55 Thongchai Jaidee with three poor putts to drop a shot at 10 for a bogey. Back to one under and the leaderboard continues to stay unchanged, apart from increasing numbers with the Irish players.

13.53 David Howell has recovered well from the six at the first hole. He goes to back to one over with a fourth birdie in-a-row.

13.52 John Daly makes par at four to stay level overall.

13.51 The sportonline inbox is overflowing with messages now. Tony has e-mailed from his office, I won't reveal your surname in case it gets you in bother!

13.49 Par for Graeme McDowell to finish his front nine. Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy are having a great battle to finish the worst of the Irish. Clarke has stumbled to seven over, with Harrington on eight and McIlroy on 10.

13.46 Damien Nolan has e-mailed from Paris to query the progress of Lee Westwood. The Englishman tees off in 30 minutes, he is expected to be in contention this time tomorrow.

sportonline@rte.ie

13.43 Steve Stricker posted a 66 on day one and then 11 shots worse the next day. So a level par 70 will be welcome today. Four birdies and bogeys included.

13.42 Four over so far today for Darren Clarke. Six over in all, disappointong for Clarke, he just can't find form over four days to get in contention of victories these days.

13.39 John Daly chips in from the rough for an unlikely birdie at the third. Thongchai Jaidee records another birdie to go to two under par for the tournament. Soon I'll be able to change the leaderboard. Hurrah!

13.38 And bogey for McDowell at the tricky eighth hole. He returns to level.

13.37 Huge putt for Padraig Harrington at 16 for a par but it comes up short. That's been a big featute of his play today. Nine over now.

13.33 I'm not over-awed by the number of comments so far, but give up I will not. sportonline@rte.ie

Par's for Clarke, Harrington and McIlroy. The latter two have three holes to play, would be nice if they could regain some pride with a good finish.

Sergio Garcia, a man on a Major mission, tees off at the first.......

13.31 Decent 70 from Luke Donald. He's three over for the tournament, that may leave him a decent place come the end of the day but at the moment it gives the Englishman a tie for 39th.

13.26 Best round of the day goes to Bryce Molder. A 67 leaves him at level par. I can't see that score being beaten too many times today.

13.25 Darren Clarke is heading in the same direction. For the third time this week he has dropped a shot at 12 and goes to five over.

13.24 I bet Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy can't wait to finish their rounds. Harrington is out to eight over after another bogey. Even worse for McIlroy, he is second last now at ten over par.

13.21 Third birdie in-a-row for Graeme McDowell, this time at seven. He goes to one under par and bang in contention to challenge now.

13.20 Soren Kjedlsen cards a 71 to go to five over for the tournament. An eight at 15 ruined his chances yesterday.

13.14 Birdie for Thongchai Jaidee at seven. One under. John Daly makes a bogey at the first to go to one over.

13.13 Only two players under par through the front nine so far today.........

13.09 Ernie Els drops shots at two and three. Two over now.

13.05 Yes! Graeme McDowell makes the birdie to go to level par for the competition. Great chance for Graeme. Andres Romero makes an eagle at seven to go to three over. John Daly finds deep rough at the first....

13.02 More players finishing up now. Paul Goydos shoots a 77, including a double bogey and two birdies to finish. He's 11 over for the tournament, with Peter Lawrie one shot better off after a 76. England's Graeme Storm cards a 74 to go to eight over. Graeme McDowell with birdie chance at six now.......

13.00 More woe for Rory McIlroy. Bogey at 12 to go to nine over. Par for Padraig Harrington, he'll be so disappointed with his round today.

12.55 Excellent, a birdie for Graeme McDowell as well as he joins McGinley on over. There is still no-one challenging at the top of the leaderboard. The best we have out on course is a clutch of players at level par: Oliver Wilson, Thongchai Jaidee, Peter Hanson, Henrik Stenson and Ernie Els are all under par so far today. There are another six or seven players on the level par score teeing off now and in a few minutes

12.54 Birdie for Paul McGinley at the seventh to return to one over par.

12.52 Sweden's Johan Edfors failed to gain any inspiration from being first man out on his own in the third round of the Open at Turnberry but at least he enjoyed the experience.

He began the day four over and, after opting not to play with marker, shot a two-over 72 in just over three hours after teeing off at 08.40.

'It was a nice round playing on my own. I played a little bit better even though the score was not the best,' said Edfors, who finished with two birdies, including holing a putt from off the green at the last.

'I enjoyed it, I could take my time. It suited me really nicely.

'I was told by my coach not to rush and I tried to take my time. I had a good walk with my caddy, the markers and the rakers.

'The wind died down a bit so it was playing a bit friendlier on the back nine but I did not really take advantage.

'It was a nice finish. I was a little disappointed I had a poor three-putt on 16 and [missed] a 10-footer for eagle on 17 but to hole that one from off the green at 18 was a bonus.'

12.50 Peter Hanson with a birdie at four to go to level par. Any guesses as to what the leading score will be at the end of the day? Two under is my guess.

sportonline@rte.ie

12.47 Dropped shot at 12 for Padraig Harrington, find the fairway at 13 though.

12.46 Not a good start for Justin Rose though, bogey and out to two over at the first.

12.45 Par holes all round for the Irish, except for Darren Clarke who has to settle for a bogey. Ernie Els with a birdie at the first, nobody will rule him out today at even par now.

12.42 Triple bogey at the last for Mark O'Meara pushes him to a 77 and 11 over for the tournament. Ouch. Robert Allenby is also finishes his round, a respectable 73. Seven over altogether.

12.40 American Bryce Molder, possibly the first time I've mentioned him this week, chips in 15 to go to one over. He's two under for the day. Great round so far.

12.37 Henrik Stenson with a birdie at two to go to level par for the tournament.

12.35 Bogey for Darren Clarke at eight. Graeme McDowell also drops a shot at the third. Ernis Els on the first now.....

12.33 It just is not happening for padraig. Birdie putt at 11 comes up short and to the right. Putting is proving more and more important as the week goes on, as Tom Watson's closing holes yesterday proved.

12.31 Great reception for Ernie Els at the first hole. Andres Romero has had a very poor start, he started the day at two over but three bogeys in the first three holes have pushed him to five over. He's steadied the ship with two pars since.

12.27 Only a bogey for Wilson. Thomas Levet and Mark O'Meara are set to finish their rounds, at the wrong end of the leaderboard. We'll keep you posted as players finish their rounds on the final scores.

Still waiting for more e-mails to come in. sportonline@rte.ie

All comments appreciated!

12.23 Ryuji Imada is five over for the day after 10, eight over for the Championship. Harrington has a birdie chance at the hole but his long putt comes up short and he will have to settle for par. Oliver Wilson will do well to avoid a double bogey at eight, it is proving to be a tricky hole for the players.

12.18 Paul McGinley with a long putt for par at five. Goes to the left of the hole and he will tap in for a bogey. Back to even par for the day.

12.17 Rory McIlroy follows Padraig Harrington is making a double bogey at eight.

12.12 An interview with John Daly shows the American's latest colourful outfit. Yellow and orange flower-pattern trousers, topped off with a cigarette in his hand, rather than a club. No wonder people like him.

12.11 Double bogey for Padraig Harrington at eight. Safe to say he is will be relinquishing his title now. Six over.

12.06 We welcome your opinions on The Open too. It is very difficult to pick a winner so would be interesting to hear some suggestions and thoughts on the Irish players so far.

sportonline@rte.ie

12.04 Par for Graeme McDowell at the first. Paul McGinley also with a par. They carry Irish hopes realistically now.

11.56 Eagle for Rory McIlroy! Excellent putt. He goes to six under and a degree of respectability. Padraig's having a bad time of it now. Poor shot at eight, could be another dropped shot on the cards.

11.55 England's Oliver Wilson makes birdie at six to go to ever par. Brilliant approach at seven from Rory McIlroy. That is how it is done Padraig!

11.54 David Howell goes out of bounds at the first and must settle for a double bogey.

11.52 Johan Edfors is the fist man to finish, he has carded a 72 thanks to a birdie-birdie finish. He's six over altogether.

11.47 So Rory McIlroy is eight over after the double bogey earlier. He ended up making a par at six after a double bogey at the fifth. Padraig Harrington had dropped a shot today, as has Darren Clarke, but Paul McGinley is going well. Graeme McDowell is on the first tee now.

11.45 Harrington saves his best shot of the hole so far but the putt is inches away. Bogey. No excuses there, that was poor.

11.43 Excellent birdie from Paul McGinley. Harrington has been hogging the headlines for Irish interest, it would be great if McGinley, Clarke or McDowell makes a charge. Harrington's fourth shot at seventh is worse than the last. He has a extremely difficult putt for par now.

11.38 A suprisingly good breakfast from the delights of the canteen has pepped me up. Two days down and I reckon it's been 20 hours of describing golf so far this week so far. Brilliant really. Can't wait for the final day tomorrow. Not a bad result for Harrington, he missed the green with his third and at a hole where he would hope for aim for eagle, it looks like saving par will be a result.

11.35 Harrington must decide whether to risk it at the par five seventh when deep in the rough with his second shot. He's gone for it, and it's way left. Disappointing.

11.32 Rory McIlroy's shot from the tee at six bounces onto off the green and hits the flag. Unfortunately, it drifts off the green. He could have done with that. A double bogey at the last compounded his misery so far today.

11.29 Comfortable par for Paul McGinley. Birdie at 12 for Thomas Levet. He's level for the day and three over. Harrington is at 7, his tee shot misses the fairway but it is ok.

11.24 Paul McGinley is beginning his round. Double bogey for Luke Donald at nine. Ruins his good start.

11.19 Luke Donald and his caddy try to argue that a spectator stood on the ball when he found it. The officals agree and Donald is allowed a free drop. He's about 100 yards from the green still, a bogey at the very least to follow.

11.18 That was a very tricky putt. Not a bad effort from Harrington and he should still make par. If he can finish the front nine at level par or even, he'll be reasonably happy.

11.17 Another search for a ball, this time it is Luke Donald at the ninth.

11.13 Padraig Harrington has been threatening to find form all week. But the lack of consistency is ruining any chance of a charge at the leaders. Nice approach to the fifth, he'll have a long putt from just off the green for birdie.

11.12 Three par's in a row for Darren Clarke. Good start. Nightmare for Imada, finds a bunker after that drop.

11.10 McIlroy stops the rot with a par at four. Ryuji Imada has to take a drop at the fifth, he's four over for the tournament but expect him to drop a shot or two more.

11.09 Another birdie for Steve Stricker. He is the first man to reach two under for the day.

11.08 Luke Donald is going well, one under for the day and two over for the championship.

11.02 I don't know how but Padraig Harrington's ball has landed in a favourable position and once again his recovery play comes to the Dubliner's rescue. Excellent chip leaves him about five feet for a par.

11.01 It's all going wrong for the Irish. Third bogey in-a-row for McIlroy. He's six over now and fading fast.

11.00 Disaster for Harrington as he finds deep, deep rough off the par three four. Hope he can find the ball.....

10.58 Paul Broadhurst, the man who took the opening shot of the tournament last Thursday, has birdied the first to go to one over.

10.55 Poor play from Harrington. He leaves himself too much for a par at the third and he returns to even par for the day.

10.54 Darren Clarke has started with a par. Graeme McDowell is due off just before 12.00.....he hasn't grabbed many headlines but a 73 yesterday left him at one over. Not a bad position to be in.

10.52 Another bogey for Rory McIlroy. It is proving a struggle but it will be a good experience for the youngster.

10.49 Harrington finds deep rough on three but good recovery and he's only a few feet off the green. You'd expect him to two-putt for par.

10.45 Darren Clarke is on the first.....

10.44 Rory McIlroy has dropped a shot at the first. It's hard to see the 20-year-old making a challenge today.

10.41 Unlucky Padraig. Decent putt leaves him a tap-in for par. Solid start.

10.40 Steve Stricker, well-placed before six bogeys on the back nine yesterday, has started well. He's one under after four holes.

10.39 Japan's Kenichi Kuboya scarcely registered a blip on his country's media radar on Saturday despite being two strokes off the lead halfway through the British Open.

Teenager Ryo Ishikawa hogged the headlines even though he crashed out of the Turnberry tournament, along with world number one and playing partner Tiger Woods.

10.36 England's Ross Fisher is joint fourth heading into the weekend but he will give it up at a moment's notice should heavily-pregnant wife Jo go into labour.

The 28-year-old has a flight on standby at nearby Prestwick airport should he get the call any time of the day or night.

'I'd love to be here for all four days but obviously my wife comes first,' he said.

'If she were to go into labour I've got no choice, I want to be there. It's going to be a great experience and once that I don't want to miss.'

10.35 Wonderful approach at the second by Padraig Harrington. This is just the start he was looking for. Another great birdie chance to come.....

10.34 Former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, riding high in third place, is limiting himself to four pints of beer a night.

The winner at Royal Troon in 1989 is currently sampling a tipple called St Mungo's (named after the patron saint of Glasgow).

Maybe some of the younger players who just made the cut should take a leaf out of the 49-year-old's book this weekend.

10.32 A similar wind to that which buffeted the Ayrshire links on Friday greeted the early starters today, with Sweden's Johan Edfors playing in splendid isolation as the 'odd man out' of the 73 players to make the halfway cut.

Edfors did pick up birdies at the fourth and seventh, but they were cancelled out by dropped shots at the second and sixth, while world number three Paul Casey slumped to seven over par with bogeys at the first three holes.

10.29 Rory McIlroy finds the bunker from the first tee. Looks like he will drop a shot. Excellent start for Padraig Harrington, great putt on the first gives him a birdie and he moves to two over par.

10.24 Harrington only teed off minutes ago, and now Rory McIlroy is set to follow.

10.17 Eight shots off the lead, Harrington must shoot under par today to have any chance. The early starters are not having an easy time of it. There are 16 players out at the moment, with only Luke Donald and Thomas Aitken under par. Both are one under so far, two over for the tournament.

10.15 Our leaders Tom Watson and Steve Marino are not due off to 15.00 but there are several players out on course already, including reigning champion Padraig Harrington.

10.10 Hello and welcome to our coverage of day three of The Open Championship at Turnberry.