The latest action from Royal Birkdale:

6.37pm: Harrington takes two putt to finish with a par-four. The Irishman has retained his title.

6.36pm: Norman misses a tricky putt after a disappointing chip to finish with a five.

6.30pm: Harrington hits another breathtaking approach shot, putting back spin on the the ball that stops it about ten feet from the hole. From a similar distance, Norman's approach lands just off the green, too.

6.27pm: KJ Choi misses an easy putt on the last to complete a miserable round of 79.

6.22pm: Harrington putts with aplomb, giving him an eagle and a four-shot lead. He is now almost certain to retain his title.

6.20pm: Norman hits an excellent putt, brushing the lip of the hole to go down in two for a birdie.

6.18pm: Norman hits cleanly out of the rough, drawing applause that fades as the ball runs past the hole and on to the long grass at the back of the green.

6.14pm: The crowd circling the 17th green applaud Harrington's arrival to it with an enthusiasm that will be bettered only if he wins the tournament. "Some reception," Allis says.

6.10pm: Norman hits his approach on the same hole into the rough shy of the green.

6.05pm: Harrington hits a beautiful approach shot to the pin on the 17th, roling up six feet from the hole. "A ripper," Peter Allis says.

5.58pm: Harrington recovers from a wayward tee-shot at the 16th to make a solid par. He remains two clear at five under par, withe the par five 17th to come.