Deflated Harrington's dream is over

Just as he could at The Masters in April, Padraig Harrington was able to pinpoint the moment when his major hat-trick bid became mission impossible.

At Augusta Harrington, having won the last two majors of last year, ran up a quadruple bogey nine on the second hole of his third round and left himself too much ground to make up. At Turnberry it was a six on the seventh hole of his third round which signalled the beginning of the end of his challenge for a third successive Open - something last achieved by Peter Thomson in 1956.

"It just wasn't my week. I needed things to go for me and there was a little bit of deflation after taking six on a par five," said the Dubliner, who after resuming eight behind dropped to nine over par with a 76.

Of the six shots it was his third, a 77-yard pitch from the right-hand rough, which did the most damage to his frame of mind.

"It was a pretty simple shot and I couldn't convince myself to hit it," he added. "I don't know why. It was poor - on another day I'd just see it and hit it."

He failed to find the green and then did not get up and down, admitting afterwards: "After that it was tough going."