Ernie Els complained of a bad back. Miguel Angel Jimenez retired with an unspecified illness. Darren Clarke said he felt sick. The east coast of Scotland can be demanding at the best of times. When the wind got up and the rain came down in yesterday’s third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links championship, it took a heavy toll of the game’s top players.

Perfect, then, for Padraig Harrington, who likes nothing better than a dose of adversity. This, remember, is the man who attributed his Open victory at Royal Birkdale to an injured wrist, a dogged competitor who insists that his best scores come when he isn’t playing well. Yesterday’s 74 at Carnoustie, a beast of a challenge even without a howling gale, carried him to four under par, two shots behind the joint leaders, Jarmo Sandelin and Martin Kaymer, and menacingly poised for today’s climax.

“Those first six holes were as tough as I have played all year,” said the Irishman, who bogeyed four of them. Neither was it easy at Kingsbarns and St Andrews, the two other venues where this tournament is being held. With only six of its 167 players breaking par, it was a chastening experience, exacerbated by the pro-celebrity format.

Clarke, fed up after following an outward 33 with a homeward 39 at Carnoustie, wore two cashmeres and a rain jacket over the usual garb and talked of hitting a nine iron 210 yards. That was 15 yards longer than Harrington’s drive on the second. The rounds were taking over six hours to complete and Graeme McDowell spoke of waiting 30 minutes between putts. “I love it, though,” he insisted. “It would be the best event on the planet if it was played in July or August.”

Harrington likes distractions and the weather isn’t the only one here. As well as the race for Europe’s order of merit title, which will be concluded at Valderrama next month, there is the team event to play for. When he holed a putt on the last, he punched the air in celebration with his partner, JP McManus. The two finished eight shots behind the leaders.

Harrington, who was out in 40, was reminded by his caddie that there were 27 holes left. He reacted in typically resilient fashion. If he can overhaul Sandelin and Kaymer, who carded a level-par 72 at Carnoustie, in today’s final round at the Old Course, he will win the £432,000 first prize and all but regain the order of merit title he won in 2006. “I know if I can win here this week, it gives me a great opportunity,” he said. “I’d like to win it again. When you are leading it, you want to win it.”

Harrington, though, isn’t quite so motivated by the money list as he used to be. Who can blame him after his triumphs in the past two majors, an achievement that will mean much more to posterity? In the past, the Dubliner would have altered his schedule with the order of merit in mind but this is his final appearance before duty calls in next month’s season-ending Volvo Masters.

The Harry Vardon Trophy, awarded to Europe’s leading player at the end of the season, has become a jaded concept in recent years, an honour rendered meaningless by the pressures of modern golf. With the circuit taking in all four majors as well as the WGC events, a player need hardly set foot in Europe to be heralded as its No 1. Were Tiger Woods a member of the European Tour, he would top its money list every year.

Bring on the European Tour’s race to Dubai, a revamped season that will culminate next year in a £10m showdown in the Middle East. “That will add some sparkle to it,” says Harrington. “There has been an issue with it [the order of merit] the last couple of years. It is an achievement for any guy to win it but the Race to Dubai will give it more hype, make it more exciting. Many of the pros, including myself, are playing with our schedules to give ourselves the best chance to get out there and win it. I definitely see myself playing more in Europe next year. I would like to give myself a good chance of winning it, especially in its first year.”

Of the main contenders this year, perhaps only Robert Karlsson and Jimenez are excited by it, largely because it would be a first on their CV. The Spaniard, fourth on the list, was 13 over for the tournament when he pulled out after 12 holes yesterday, continuing only in the team event with Hugh Grant. Karlsson, third in the order of merit, is three off the lead after a 76 at Carnoustie.

Lee Westwood, second on the money list, has won it before, his 2000 success ending Colin Montgomerie’s eight in a row. The Englishman trails Harrington by €220,000 but a 76 at Carnoustie did not enhance his chances. He was six over after six holes and never really recovered. He was in good company. With the top 60 players and ties contesting today’s final round at the Old Course, Els and Montgomerie were among those who failed to make the cut. If today is anything like yesterday, they will not be losing any sleep over it.