It might have been his seventh successive sub par round since the start of the season but Pádraig Harrington still slipped back into the pack on day three of the Sony Open in Hawaii.

The Dubliner moved up to joint ninth at one stage in the third round when he single-putted his first six greens and picked up birdies at the second, third and 10th.

That he only managed a one under par 69 at Waialae Country Club had plenty to do with his putting over the last 11 holes as he missed a six footer for birdie at the eighth and a five footer for another at the ninth.

His round then unravelled somewhat in the middle of the back nine when he failed to get up and down for par from sand at the 11th and 13th and three-putted the 15th from 31 feet, missing from just inside three feet for par there after coming up short with his approach putt.

He recovered by holing an eight footer for par at the 16th and a nine footer for a birdie two at the 17th to get back into red figures for the day. 

That it was the longest putt he holed all day said it all and it was no surprise that he missed a 14 footer for birdie at the 18th after leaving himself a near 40 yard bunker shot for his third after a good drive.

At seven under par, Harrington ended the day down to tied for 39th from 25th and nine shots behind co-leaders Zac Blair (64) and Brandt Snedeker (66). 

Scores

Graeme McDowell missed the halfway cut by six shots after rounds of 70 and 73.