Harrington out to turn back the clock
PADRAIG HARRINGTON will head into today’s final day of the Portugal Masters just one shot off the lead, as he goes in search of his first European Tour win in eight years.
The Irishman’s last European Tour victory came in 2008 as he claimed his third major at the US PGA Championship. But he was within touching distance of ending that drought after a thirdround 67 in Vilamoura yesterday.
Harrington had led at the turn after making four birdies on the front nine but he came home in level par as Denmark’s Anders Hansen and Finn Mikko Korhonen both moved past him to get to 18-under-par. “I’m happy with that,” he said. “When I got it through 10 holes as I did, if I pushed on a couple it would take a lot of people out of contention tomorrow.
“There’s plenty of guys now that feel they can shoot a low one in there – eight, nine, 10-underpar as we’ve seen.
“I’ve got to play well tomorrow. A lot of work to be done.”
Hansen announced his retirement from the European Tour at the 2015 Portugal Masters and was playing just his fifth event of the season. But the 46-year-old showed no signs of rust, making nine birdies on his way to a blemish-free 62.