Defending champion Padráig Harrington goes into the final round of the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship, at The European Club, after a one-under-par 70 for level 213, with a gaping six strokes lead over Philip Walton as both players are bidding for a fifth victory in the tournament.
However, despite that comfortable cushion, Harrington refuses to believe that he is firmly in the driving seat.
"It is not a forgone conclusion as anyone can have a good day out there and I could have a very average day. I could waken up in the morning with a sore neck - it's not too hard to shoot a 75. I do hope I can win from here but it is not certain by any means," stressed the holder who is, of course, building up to his defence of the Open title at Birkdale next week.
Harrington bogeyed the second and fourth holes in his third round after starting the day at one-over for the tournament but his round was rescued with birdie three at the seventh where he pitched to three feet. "I was happy with that. It was a bonus and made the rest of my round easier," he reflected.
He missed the green to drop a shot at the ninth but covered the back nine in three-under-33 with an eagle at the long 13th and a birdie three, from 15 feet, at 17. A five iron from 207 yards to eight feet from where he rolled home the uphill putt carved out his golden eagle at the 13th hole.
As regards preparation for his defence of the British Open he explained: "I am not dissecting my game here like last year. I'm not unhappy with my preparation - my game is about six out of ten. I am not getting the strike I want but I will work on that over the next few days."
Walton, who qualified for The Open at West Lancashire last Tuesday, will partner Harrington in the final round. He posted a 73 yesterday to be six shots behind the leader. Walton shot his third 73 in the tournament with 16 pars and two bogeys on his card.
Score of the day, however, was a 69 by David Higgins who shot off with a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole. He had further birdies at 11 and 13 but pencilled in bogeys at the seventh, 12th and 15th in a roller-coaster round. He is joined by Eamon Darcy and Robert Giles on 221