Harrington: Wrist injury
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Padraig Harrington believes the wrist injury which almost left him withdrawing on the eve of his Open defence might in fact have been a blessing in disguise.
Having suffered the injury whilst practicing last weekend, the Dubliner rated his chances of teeing off at 75 percent following an aborted day's practice on Wednesday.
At that stage, Harrington also rated his chances of playing in all four rounds as being just 50-50.
But, after battling his way to a 72 in the gusty winds prevailing at Royal Birkdale on Saturday, the 36-year-old now finds himself in a tie for second place, just two strokes behind leader Greg Norman.
And, having struggled earlier in the week, Harrington now feels that being unable to practice fully might actually have worked to his advantage.
"I only played nine holes before the tournament started. The 54 holes since feel like 108 but at least I didn't tire myself out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday," said Harrington, who will play alongside two-times Open champion Norman in Sunday's final group.
"The wrist seems to be fine. I'm confident in it at this stage."
Different circumstances
Last year Harrington was six shots behind Sergio Garcia going into the final round but eventually won in a four-hole play-off against his Ryder Cup team-mate.
Aiming to become the first European to successfully defend the Open since James Braid in 1906, Harrington admitted that the circumstances on Sunday will be completely different.
"Last year I was going into the final round under no particular pressure, just go out and play and anything can happen," he continued.
"Tomorrow I would love to have the same attitude but it's going to be a tighter day.
"It's going to be a day when you are watching other people as well. Last year the only person I was focused on was me because I had to go forward to have a chance of winning.
"Tomorrow you don't know if a good or steady day could be good enough.
"I will attempt to do all of those things I did last year. I have to realise I might not be in that zone tomorrow but maybe I don't have to be either."
Commenting on Saturday's round, the former European number one added: "It was one of those days to stay focused in the present and I won't know what to think until I sit down and rest later this evening.
"I'm happy with the score, it could have been lower but I certainly would have taken that going out there.
"I didn't see the leaderboards all day, kept my head down. I knew everybody would find it tough. You could see if things got away from you it was going to be a tough day. The key was to get a few breaks."
Holed pitch
One such break came on the fifth when Harrington looked certain to drop his second shot of the day after falling short of the green in two.
However, he then holed his pitch from 50 yards for a birdie three.
Another birdie followed on the seventh but Harrington was in danger of slipping out of contention when he dropped four shots in the next five holes.
However, birdies at the 15th and 17th more than compensated for another bogey on the 16th.
