Padraig Harrington is two shots better off the McIlroy on 13-under.

It was a tremendous day's work from McIlroy. Indeed, but for a bogey on the final hole it would have been even better and he would have gone out for today's round paired with Ernie Els. As it was, he had to settle for a 67 despite a blistering front nine which he covered in just 30 shots. Starting off with a sparkling four birdies in the first four holes, he added another two before the turn to move to 12-under par. His back nine was a little more prosaic, with two bogeys and one birdie on his card. If he holds his form today, he could be in line for the first outsized paycheque of his nascent career.

He'll have to go some to overhaul Dougherty, whose 66 at St Andrews was his second in two days. The 25-yearold from Liverpool, aiming for a second European Tour title after winning the Caltex Masters back in 2005, ended the day three shots clear of Australian Peter O'Malley, with Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Justin Rose and Stephen Webster a further shot back in third. Dougherty, who has racked up numerous top-10 finishes this season . . . including seventh in the US Open at Oakmont . . . had started the day in a share of top spot and birdies at the fourth and fifth got him off to a good start.

The Englishman conjured further birdies at the seventh and eighth to reach the turn in 32 and continued that fine form with a birdie at the 11th and another at the 17th to boost his title charge.

O'Malley, who equalled the Carnoustie course record of 64 during Friday's second round, was making good progress on 13 under through six holes of his third round at St Andrews but slipped back when he found the bunker at the treacherous Road Hole 17th . . . his eighth. O'Malley was forced to hack out backwards and took an ugly double bogey six. The former Scottish Open champion recovered with birdies at the 18th and the first to move back to 13 under. A final birdie on the last moved him into second place on his own and he will have the pleasure of Dougherty's company for the afternoon today.

Rose, second on the European Tour Order of Merit, also made purposeful strides up the standings with a 66 at Kingsbarns that included and eagle, five birdies and just two bogeys at the.

The 27-year-old Englishman made an inauspicious start with a bogey at the first but he swiftly made amends with an eagle three at the 516-yard third and birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth.

Open champion Harrington, the Dunhill Links winner both last year and in 2002, was one under through eight at Kingsbarns but found himself seven off the pace at nine under overall midway through his round. But he rallied towards the end, picking up birdies on the 12th, 14th and 16th to move ominously into contention, four shots behind Dougherty.

South African Ernie Els, the former Open champion, posted a two-under 70 at Kingsbarns to finish on a 12under aggregate of 204, while Sweden's Peter Hanson and world number 18 Trevor Immelman both came in on 11under 205. English Ryder Cup star Luke Donald shot a threeunder 69 at Kingsbarns to head into the closing round on a 10-under 206.

Meanwhile Colin Montgomerie says he would consider being vice-captain for the European team in next year's Ryder Cup. Captain Nick Faldo is looking to replace Paul McGinley, who quit the role last week.

Montgomerie said: "I'd be delighted to help the cause in any way. As a playing vicecaptain? Could be." But the Scot questioned Faldo's approach to the appointment, saying that the decision should be made a month before the event.