Harrington charges into five-shot lead at Iskandar Johor Open
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Padraig Harrington of Ireland raced into a commanding five-shot lead despite playing with a neck injury in the third round of the US$1.25 million Iskandar Johor Open on Saturday.
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Padraig Harrington. |
The three-time Major winner, a member of the victorious European team at the Ryder Cup two weeks ago, gritted his teeth to pull off a four-under-par 68 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.
Harrington's three-day total of 17-under-par 199 put him well clear of Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang, who needed two late birdies for an even par 72 in the Asian Tour event.
Singaporean Mardan Mamat fired a 70 for third place, six back, while Korea's Noh Seung-yul, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, and former world junior champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand shared fourth place on 206 after a 71 and 69 respectively.
Harrington tweaked a muscle in his neck during warm up but showed no signs of his troubles as he charged into an eight-shot lead through 12 holes when he got to five under for the day. He missed a short birdie chance on 16 and then three putted for bogey on 17 as Lin chipped away the lead.
"If I wasn't leading, I would have definitely pulled out. It's still a problem. It was a bit better at the end but it was a substantial problem. I got a lot of breaks early on as I couldn't really hit the ball at all for a good while, three quarter shots all the way. Thankfully I did get a lot of breaks," said Harrington.
"It eased up a little bit on 16 but I didn't finish very well! But maybe sometimes when you are injured, it makes you relax a bit more. You accept poor shots and get on with it. My attitude was good all the way through."
Bidding a first Tour victory in two years since his last victory at the US PGA Championship in 2008, Harrington said he will not rest on his laurels.
"I'm a little disappointed I didn't take the eight shot lead through to the clubhouse. There's a lot to play for. It gives a chance to the field, to a number of guys who are close enough. If someone goes out there and shoots 64, it might put some pressure on me. My goal will be to shoot in the 60s. If someone beats me, I'll be patting them on the back and saying ‘well done'," said the world number 22, who headed straight for physiotherapy after his round.
