TURNBERRY (Scotland) - PADRAIG Harrington's hopes of an historic hat-trick of British Open titles lay in tatters on Saturday as he slumped to nine over for the tournament through 16 holes in the third round.

WATSON, who only last October had hip replacement surgery, said he was not surprised by Marino's sudden conversion into a links golfer. 'Well, I never played links golf before I played Carnoustie in 1975 (where he won on his Open debut) and it turned out pretty good for me,' he said, ... more

The 37-year-old Irishman had only just squeezed into the weekend's action at three over par, eight shots behind joint leaders Tom Watson and Steve Marino of the United States.

He started well with a birdie at the first, but dropped that on the third and a bogey and double-bogey at seven and eight saw him reach the turn in three over 38. There was no relief from him on the back nine with further bogeys at 12, 14 and 16 as his challenge vanished.

Harrington won the Open at Carnoustie and Birkdale and a third triumph here on Sunday would have made him the first man since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956 to lift three in a row.

Also out of the picture was another Irish hope, 20-year-old Rory McIlroy, who slipped to 10 over par through 16 holes after a horrendous round that included five bogeys and two double bogeys.

With leaders Watson and Marino not out until 3pm (1400 GMT) and playing conditions near ideal, there was a clear opportunity for one of the 19 other players who were under par at the halfway stage to pile the pressure on them.

Best of the early starters was Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, who was at three-under through nine holes and Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who was one under after eight.

Thirty-year-old Open debutant Bryce Molder, meanwhile posted the early target in the clubhouse with a three under 67 which left him even par for the tournament on 210.

The 59-year-old Watson and 29 year-old Marino were set to anchor the Open's third round with, for once, no Tiger Woods to worry about.

Already the performances of Watson and Marino have taken everyone by surprise as arguably the best links player in history and a man who had never played on a classic seaside layout before this week set the pace. -- AFP