Happy ending boosts Harrington

Golf:Pádraig Harrington finally won his battle with the 18th hole at Fancourt during the third round of the Volvo Golf Champions event as he moved to within three shots of the leaders in South Africa.

After two double-bogey sevens on The Links course he two-putted for birdie and was round in a three-under 70 to move into a tie for sixth place on seven under with South African Louis Oosthuizen.

At 89th in the world the three-time Major winner is trying to climb back into the top 64 in time for next month’s Accenture world match play.

He can achieve that with a win tomorrow, although the cut-off point is not for another three weeks.

“There’s a glaring part of my game missing - my routine is not flowing – but going forward I am quite positive I can fix that,” Harrington said after making birdies at three of the last four holes to climb back into contention.

“I did feel like giving fists up in the air after that birdie at the last, but I’m not getting into thinking about what could have been the other days.”

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal still has a chance to kick off Ryder Cup year with his first win for seven years - from the depths of 596th in the world.

After a wet and wild day that saw his fellow Spaniard Pablo Martin crash to a 90 and overnight leader Branden Grace take 75, Olazabal is only two shots off the pace going into the final round.

By far the lowest-ranked player in the 35-man winners-only European Tour event, the 46-year-old stands eight under par, two behind Grace and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

Olazabal managed a one-under-par 72 despite driving into the bushes with his opening shot of the day and then taking a double-bogey five on the 17th when his ball kicked into more trouble.

That looked to be very costly, but Grace - four clear at halfway just like Colsaerts had been after his opening course-record 64 - double-bogeyed the same hole.

In contrast, big-hitting Colsaerts eagled the last for a 69, needing only a drive and eight iron to make the green on the 549-yard hole.

He and Grace, last man in after winning last week’s Joburg Open, are a shot in front of two more South Africans, Retief Goosen and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, with Olazabal alone in fifth.

Darren Clarke rescued a level par round of 73, making birdies at the final two holes after suffering a horrid start with three straight bogeys from the first. It left the British Open champion on four under for the tournament.

Two double-bogeys on the back nine left Michael Hoey signing for a three-over 76 as he moved back to seven over for the tournament.