THE THREE IRISHMEN still in action at St Andrew’s have a lot to do to get themselves near the top of the leaderboard on the final day of the British Open, as all eyes turn to the two Englishmen chasing runaway leader Louis Oosthuizen.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has birdied the fifth to get back to -1 for the week in a tie for eighth spot, though he is still a full ten shots off the leader who, at the time of writing, had just begun his final round.

His compatriot and US Open champion Graeme McDowell is a shot further back, with a respectable -3 for the day after 16, undoing some of the damage done by his less-than-satisfactory 76 yesterday.

Shane Lowry is the best of the Republic’s two remaining players, at +1 after 6 to sit at -3 for the week.

Earlier, Darren Clarke finished his week with a one-under 71 to finish the tournament on level par in a tie for 48th, while Colm Moriarty was one better with a two-under 70 in a tie for 41st.

Local eyes have turned to English pair Paul Casey and Lee Westwood, however, who represent Britain’s best chance to win the Open since Paul Lawrie won the Claret Jug in 1999.

Casey shot a 67 yesterday to add to his two rounds of 69 and lies in second, although he has dropped a shot on the second to sit five behind his playing partner and leader Oosthuizen, who leads at -15.

Westwood is three shots back behind in a four-way tie for third at -7.

Though the two English players are some way off the lead, they’ll be keen to pounce should Oosthuizen be struck by any kind of final-day nerves. The South African has only ever made the cut in a Major once before – at the US PGA in 2008.