Harrington eight back at St Andrews; GB&I caresses PGA Cup

Casey Jarvis. Picture: Getty Images

Victory looks like a long shot, but Pádraig Harrington can still rack up his first top-10 finish in almost four years at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

A four-under 68 on the Old Course at St Andrews left him 21st on 10-under, eight shots behind South Africa's Casey Jarvis, who shot a seven-under 65 at the Home of Golf.

The Dubliner (55) needs a sensational final round to become the oldest winner in DP World Tour history.

But he's still on course to record his first top-10 finish in a regular tour event since finishing fourth at the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

"Yes, I'm super pleased," said Jarvis, who made an eagle and five birdies to lead by two strokes on 18-under-par from England's Matthew Jordan and Poland's Adrian Meronk.

"I just felt like I was in control of my game today. I was really solid tee-to-green, and luckily rolled in a couple of putts.

"I mean, obviously I know I'm going to be feeling pressure tomorrow. I have won twice this year. So I kind of know how to deal with it a little better. 

"I still know I'm going to feel first-tee nerves and pressure throughout the day. But I'm just going to try and manage it as much as I can."

Jordan shot a six-under 66 at Kingsbarns, where 2022 Irish Open champion Meronk carded a blistering 63 to join him in second place.

"I want to be in the last few groups, and I want to give myself a really good chance, certainly, on Sunday, and yeah, that's what I've done today," Jordan said. "So let's see what tomorrow brings."

LIV Golf star Meronk (33) is 141st in the Race to Dubai and on track to make the top 100 who keep their playing rights.

But he's still dreaming of winning at the Home of Golf and notching his fifth DP World Tour win.

"It would be super special," he said. "But we still have 18 holes to go."

Belgium's Thomas Detry sits alone in fourth, three shots off the lead, while Danes Jacob Skov Olesen (63 at Kingsbarns) and Niklas Norgaard (67 on the Old Course) are a shot further back in fifth.

Meanwhile, Great Britain and Ireland extended their PGA Cup advantage at The K Club and need just two points from Sunday's ten singles to win the Llandudno International Trophy for the first time since 2017.

Leading 6-2 after the first day at the South Course, captain David Scott's charges won three and halved another match in the morning foursomes before sharing the afternoon fourballs 2-2 to lead 11.5-4.5.