Harrington says his game has improved in past year

By Tony Jimenez

ASH (Reuters) - Padraig Harrington believes he is striking the ball much better now than he did before his British Open triumph at Carnoustie 12 months ago.

"The game is far better than at any stage last year," the Irishman told reporters after a roller-coaster 69 earned a five-under aggregate of 211 in the European Open third round on Saturday.

"I rate my game on how I play tee to green and it is far better. Last year I won the Irish Open and thought 'wow, I am going to kick on from here' but then I had an awful six weeks into the British Open and was really out of form."

Harrington collected three birdies and two eagle threes at the London Club. However, he was also caught out several times by gusts of up to 50 kms an hour, recording four bogeys on the back nine.

The 36-year-old Dubliner did well to finish with a five at the 471-yard par-four 18th after an over-aggressive strategy led to him finding a watery grave off the tee.

"Yesterday I was able to hit it down the right to avoid the water," said Harrington. "I wish I had done that today.

"It was pretty windy all day. I had a pitching wedge into the 15th (one of his two eagle holes) and had to aim 50 yards off the green but the course is set up nicely, the pin positions are reasonable and there are plenty of opportunities."

Harrington thought it would be a decent idea to adjust the tour schedule in order that the European Open and (last week's) French Open were the last two warm-up events ahead of the British Open.