Harrington making up the numbers in Connecticut

Fredrik Jacobson, who was tied 14th in last week’s US Open, leads the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands. Credit: Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.iePadraig Harrington made the delayed halfway cut with relative ease but then slipped back to 70th of the 74 survivors after a one over 71 in Saturday’s third round in the Travelers Championship.

The 39-year old needed to pick up two shots in the last 12 holes of his delayed second round to make the projected three under par cut at TPC River Highlands.

He did that with a shot to spare as he carded a three under 67 by combinin some rapier-like iron play and sometimes excellent putting with the occasional wild tee shot and several squandered opportunities.

Given the up and down nature of his game and his lack of true confidence, he was never a factor in the afternoon and finished the day 11 shots behind Swede Fredrik Jacobson, who shot a fine 63 to lead by a stroke from American Bryce Molder on 16 under par.

Starting at the 10th, Harrington double bogeyed the par-five 13th when he drove into water and then took four to get down from less than 20 yards off the green after just clearing another water hazard with his third shot.

While he bounced back with a biride from 14 feet at the next, he then bogyed the first following a drive into trouble on the right and followed birdies from 10 feet at the fifth and nine feet at the sixth with another dropped shot at the 223-yard eighth.

Halway leader Patrick Cantlay, bidding to become the first amateur winner on the US Tour since Phil Mickelson 20 years ago, struggled to a two over 72 to fall five shots off the pace and into a share of 10th on 11 under.