Even if the conditions yesterday were positively benign in comparison to the tempest of earlier in the week . . . hell, the sun even emerged for a time - the wind still gusted to 20 mph, there was the occasional shower, it was unseasonably cool, and approaching kick-off time in Cardiff, only the die hards remained on the course.

Bad breaks all round then for the Irish Open? Some redemption came in the form of the presence of Darren Clarke, and to a lesser extent Padraig Harrington, near the top of the leaderboard, but when people were asking "How're they doing?" later in the afternoon, they weren't necessarily referring to Clarke or Harrington.

Not unexpectedly, the lure of the tented village and Munster's pursuit of glory proved too much for most of the spectators who had taken their chances with the weather, however, the level of desertion from the groups involving Clarke and Harrington was significantly less.

With Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane, who had led the Irish challenge going into the third round, struggling to stay in touch, it was the country's two leading players who made their moves. Both threw in birdies early on the course's immaculate greens, both reached the turn in two-under-par 34, and both were soon hot on the trail of Paul Casey and Thomas Bjorn.

If Harrington's solid form was welcome after his inconsistencies at last week's British Masters, Clarke's dramatic rise from a lowly tie for 26th place at the start of round was astonishing given his confessions of the previous day. "I'm deriving no pleasure from playing golf right now, " he said, admitting that he would rather have watched Munster. "I'm fed up with it, " he added.

Notwithstanding the stress of his wife Heather's on-going battle with cancer, it's worth wondering what Clarke would have shot had he been more enamoured of the day job. As it was, his 67 for a four under par total of 212 was flawless except for a short missed birdie putt at the final hole. "Actually, it was a lapse of concentration as I was more interested in watching the rugby on the big screen, " he said.

But after the doom and gloom of the previous day, where did that score, which included five birdies and no dropped shots, come from? "I really can't explain it because I've played so badly for the past week and a half and then I go out and hardly miss a shot. Did I think I was going to play well? Probably not, but I flagged it for most of the day and I was as surprised at that as anyone else."

Some advice before his round from Sky Sports' lead commentator, Ewen Murray, also helped, and now from a seemingly hopeless position, Clarke has an opportunity to become the first Irish player since John O'Leary in 1982 to win this title.

Harrington is far from out of it either following his 69 for a two under par total of 214, but with Thomas Bjorn, Ian Poulter, Casey and Clarke all in a log-jam at the top, he probably needs a 66 later today to have any chance.

"I'm within striking distance, but I need a very good score in the final round. If the weather stays tough then it'll be hard to make up that sort of ground. I should've been a couple of shots better really."

The stakes are also high for Casey who had been in control of the British Masters before sliding disappointingly back to a tie for fifth place behind the surprise winner, Sweden's Johan Edfors. The Englishman looked as if he would take the lead into today, but instead Bjorn eagled the par-five final hole to set the early mark in the clubhouse at five under par to add a 67 to his course record second round of 66.

But whither then the Irish Open? Nissan couldn't have done much more, propping up an ailing tournament on four occasions now, and following this latest staging, it will be no great surprise if they decide to cut and run.

Augusta endures its rain and storms, the Ryder Cup has been affected in the past, but then events with a cachet are immune to bad weather.

Not so the Irish Open which was once the only golf show in town. For it to succeed year in, year out, in its present incarnation, it needs an impressive venue, at least one Irish player in contention, as well as good conditions. Carton House emphatically ticks the box as a quality venue, but the other two criteria can never be counted on.

Some form of salvation could be at hand if a new sponsor insists that the tournament is played on a links outside of the greater Dublin area which is currently spoiled for sports choice. For all Carton House's undoubted grandeur, it and its kind will never have the rugged originality of an Irish links.

The Irish Open is in need of new branding, a different character, for it to do more than simply tread water.

But the future is uncertain, just like the dynamic of today's final round, and in fact, the only sure thing that has emerged from the week is that if Paul McGinley and Kenneth Ferrie . . . involved in a ludicrous rules spat during the first round - both qualify for Europe's Ryder Cup team, Ian Woosnam will have one less decision to make regarding his pairings.