Padraig Harrington insists he is playing "far better" now than in the lead-up to his Open Championship win at Carnoustie last year.

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The Irishman made his comments despite driving into the lake on the last hole of his third round in the European Open at the London Golf Club.

Harrington, who will defend his Major title at Royal Birkdale in late July, compiled a three-under par 69 on a blustery day.

But the Dubliner, who only made the cut with a shot to spare, would have been hoping for better after going out in 31 strokes.

It left him on five-under-par for the tournament and waiting to see if the leaders came back to him.

Harrington said: "The game is in far better shape than at any stage last year. This is a period I have to work very hard at and sometimes hard work is not the best.

"Going out on a Saturday with nothing to lose like today is more the attitude I need for four days rather than beat myself up.

"It's pretty windy - the gusts were up to 25mph - but there are still plenty of scoring opportunities.

"It really was affecting the putting, though. You had to go with the wind rather than the line at times."