Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington took full advantage of this week’s no-cut Volvo Champions event with a masterful third round 67 in the Volvo Champions in Durban.
Harrington capped his third round with an eagle at the par five, 10th hole where the Dubliner hit a 3-ion from 245-yards out that landed just five feet short of the flagstick.
The Dubliner ended the day in a share of fifth place on eight under par but lying seven strokes behind Scotland’s Scott Jamieson who heads the Euro 2m event by five shots at 15-under par.
Harrington’s name appears on leader board for a first time in 2013. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I’m happy enough but disappointed not to birdie that one at the last especially after getting that one at 17,” said Harrington.
“Overall I played better tee to green. It was very bad yesterday but really just okay today.
“A 67 is a good score and it’s nice to see my name sneak up there on the leaderboard.
“I’m continuing to putt well and to see that one drop at 10 was nice as I had three bogeys over the front nine so the eagle there helped turn it around.
“But there are still some bad shots in my game and the big bonus is that having four rounds here in a no-cut event has been very helpful.”
And moments after Harrnington handed in his score card and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry went within four feet of winnnig a Volvo excavator at the short par four, 18th.
Lowry is competing for a first time since being forced into Dubai hospital late last year with shingles that meant the Portugal Masters winner missing out on the Race to Dubai season-ending DP World Championship.
The Esker Hills golfer, currently ranked 52nd in the world, was headed for an average round until he found the green with his drive at 18th.
However the crowd began to rise to its feet when Lowry’s ball began tracking towards the hole and stopping just short of the hole before the affable Irishman knocked in the putt in a round of 70
““I’m getting closer to winning that digger so it’s a great way to finish with an eagle,” said Lowry.
“It’s a good reward as we got a heavy shower when I was on the 16th as I had got a good tee shot away and I had 188 yards going in to the wind with what would be normally a 5-iron but it just poured and I took a 4-iron and tried to chase it in there.
“It overran the green and it came out left and I didn’t have any shot and had to chip out so to walk off with a double from the middle of the fairway wasn’t that nice.
“Fortunate enough the rain stopped on 18 and I managed to hit the green again and then to roll that putt in at 18 was very pleasing.
“I’m very pleased with my play over the three days and it’s like I’ve never had a break even though I haven’t played since before going into hospital in Dubai.
“So to have three rounds under par in my first event of the year is a great way to start my new season.
“And looking at the board I can’t see any reason why I can’t finish second but then I would have to do better on the par fives.
“Finishing second would kick a lot of goals I know but I am not thinking about anything other than the final round.”
