Harrington holds on to narrow lead

Padraig Harrington has taken advantage of late lapses by young Australian Adam Scott to regain his Madrid Open advantage and take a one-shot lead into Sunday's final round.

Scott had moved three strokes ahead of the Irishman, who is seeking his second win in three years in Madrid to go top of Europe's rankings, but bogeyed the last two holes while Harrington birdied two of the last three.

Harrington's five-under-par 66 for a 16-under-par total of 197 left him one shot better than Scott, who posted a 66, and the surging Steen Tinning of Denmark, who carded the week's best score, a 62.

Trevor Immelman was a further stroke back while fellow South African Retief Goosen, the defending champion and order of merit leader battling with Harrington to be Europe's number one, was five off the pace.

After Maarten Lafeber captured a one-shot lead when finishing off his second round in the morning following Friday's fog delay, Harrington, one back at the start, blazed past the Dutchman with an eagle on the fourth followed by two birdies.

Scott soon came storming into the picture, though, birdieing five times in six holes to the turn to catch Harrington.

Tinning, free of the back problems that almost ended his career last year, mixed it with the pair and set a 15-under clubhouse target with a scintillating 62 which would have been the course record but for preferred lies.

But, as Harrington wilted with a bogey on the 14th with an approach into the trees, Scott, seeking a third win of the season, took over with three successive birdies from the same 14th.

Suddenly it went wrong, though, for the 22-year-old as he hit into the crowd on the short 17th and then bunkered on the last.

Harrington pounced with birdies and 25-foot putts on the 16th and 17th to retake the advantage.

"I wouldn't say I'm buzzing with confidence," said Harrington, "and I don't expect to turn up on the tee box and expect things to happen automatically.

"I was lucky to hole two long putts at the end but I stuck at it and probably got the best out of my round.

"Adam's a tough competitor, though, and he's proved he can shoot low numbers.

Scott said: "It leaves a real sour taste in your mouth to bogey the last two, but that's all right. I hope I can go out and play a mistake-free round tomorrow."

Immelman remained in with a chance of his first title after two 2002 second places, while Europe's former number one Lee Westwood continued his good scoring to be three off the lead.

Westwood said he had had to fight a dose of 'snap hooks' but still managed to run in two eagles in his round of 66.

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