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** Dave's tips this week are Ernie Els (14/1), Jim Furyk (25/1), Niclas Fasth (40/1), Ian Poulter (66/1) and Richard Sterne (125/1) **

2100: In comes Padraig with the claret jug and he plonks it on the table in front of him. But son Patrick is back on the scene and does his best to steal the show by saying various things into the microphone whilst giggling. "Patrick", "I live in Ireland", and my own personal favourite "I really like ladybirds." Padraig is happy to indulge him but with a mock tone of discipline in his voice says jokingly: "I know your dad's the Open champion, but...." While little Patrick spins around in his chair and climbs under the table, Padraig answers away happily and it's hard to get him to stop talking to be honest. He describes the feeling of "genuine shock" when he realised he was the Open champion but says, interestingly, that he never really had the feeling that it was his day despite shooting an excellent 67. Despite his shocker at the 72nd, he says he never allowed himself to think that he'd just blown the Open although, had he finished as a loser, he reveals that it would have been incredibly hard to take and he would have struggled to come back as a competitive golfer. Strong words! Responding to Nick Faldo's claim earlier this week that the British and Irish golfers were too chummy, Padraig says he can't help it as he takes after his Dad. He agrees that nice guys can come first and it's a good thing to aspire to. With that, he heads off with wife Caroline and little Patrick and I'm jealous that it's going to be over six hours before I see my wife and son. Tiger Woods was asked if being a dad might cause him to lose focus and be a negative. Padraig Harrington has proved such comments nonsense this week and who knows what effect having his loved ones nearby had in his moment of crisis. Anyway, I'm tired and clearly a little emotional. Thank god Matt's doing the drive back to Leeds as I'm a spent force. Thanks for all your e-mails, erm, I'm rambling now. Gotta go. Goodbye.

2100: As you'd expect having been centimetres away from winning the Open, Sergio feels the world is against him. He complains several times about having to wait 15 minutes to hit his second shot at the last in regulation play and says he should write a book about how to hit perfect shots in a playoff but still lose. He says that he doesn't only have to beat the players when he contests majors, he also has to beat a higher force which is stopping him winning. I guess we'd be bitter too in similar circumstances.

2050: Let's rewind to the end of the playoff. Matt, Harry and I dash to the side of the 18th green and get a decent view through a couple of heads. Harrington has a two-shot lead and is on the brink of a first major but his little boy Patrick is completely oblivious to it. He runs back and forth along the side of a wall while his minder tries her best to keep him in check. Meanwhile, daddy has an Open to win and there's a chance we could get the necessary two-shot swing to extend the play-off as Harrington takes three shots to reach the green. The Irishman misses his par putt so Sergio has a chance to draw level but, to his agony, his birdie putt stays out. Padraig has a three-footer for par and a foot from the hole he knows it's in and thrusts his arms into the air. We have our new Open champion. On come the family while a dejected Sergio looks dumbfounded. Last year's Ryder Cup skipper Tom Lehman is there to congratulate him and there are big chants of 'Ole Ole Ole' from all the Irish who have got themselves into the big hotel behind the green. It's a short wait for the presentation ceremony before Padraig does himself proud by thanking all the right people in his speech. His voice breaks as he says his late father will be looking down and, believe it not, there's a rainbow in the distance as he walks off with the trophy.

2000: Sergio has just come into the press tent for interview. Back shortly.

1922: Over food, Matt reveals that Harrington had to back away from his tee shot at the 1st hole of the play-off as John Leslie was causing a distraction trying to film the action on his mobile. Ermm.... insert own joke here.

1843: Talking of flagging, that describes my state at the moment so I'm off to watch this in the canteen.

1841: The playoff is delayed as the flag at the 1st hole has disappeared so there are ironic cheers as it's finally planted by a sheepish official.

1840: The playoff will be held over 1, 16, 17 & 18. Looking at their scores this week, Garcia has played those four holes in one under while Harrington is +3. Advantage Sergio?

1832: 1975, 1999 and now 2007. The third successive Carnoustie Open playoff.

1829: Garcia rolls his putt but it lips out!! Lots of heads in hands in here as this will severely delay our departure. Journalists have familys to get back to you know! But this is enormously exciting stuff and who knows what might unfold in the four-hole playoff.

1828: Stricker finishes with a bogey and clears the stage for Garcia.

1826: Garcia chips out but it drifts 10 to 12 feet past. Suddenly, a play-off beckons.

1824: Garcia is 93rd on the US Tour's sand save stats and gets up and down 49.21% of the time. In other words it's almost bang on 50-50 whether he makes his par. That's reflected in the Betfair odds where he's currently 1.50 (1/2).

1822: Sergio clears the burn but finds the bunker! This is not over yet!

1820: Here we go. The most important shot of Sergio's career.

1818: Sergio assesses the scene in front of him. He's a great long iron player so you'd fancy him to reach the green in normal circumstances. These aren't normal circumstances.

1815: Sergio hits a lovely little stinger and finds the fairway but he's a long way back and it's over 200 yards to the burn in front of the green.

1814: Harrington holes a brave putt but it's still a double bogey. His little boy runs onto the green and dad scoops him up in his arms to help soften the blow of that 18th hole.

1810: Harry shouts across that Garcia has made par at 18 in each of his first three rounds.

1809: Harrington's pitch looks as if it will leap past the whole but the spin stops it dead and he now has a very good chance of making a six. If he does, Sergio will need to par the last to win the claret jug.

1808: Garcia pars 17 to stay at eight-under.

1806: Garcia is now 1/7 at Sky Bet while Harrington is shunted out to 4/1.

1804: Harrington's eyes pop wide open as he mishits his third and that finds the burn in front of the green. He'll now be chipping onto the green with his fifth shot. A pitch and two putts and it'll be a Jean Van de Velde-style treble bogey seven. A massive buzz in the press room.

1803: After much pacing, Garcia draws his gun first and gets a break as his approach to 17 just clears a bunker and finds the green.

1800: You couldn't script this. Garcia strides over the bridge as he strides down 17 and passes Harrington walking the other way. The two share a rather nervous smile.

1757: Garcia has now gone favourite at Sky Bet. He's 4/6 while Harrington is out to 11/10 from 1/5.

1755: Oh my goodness! Harrington's drive at the last kicks right, takes two bounces along a bridge over the burn but then drops into the water! Is it 1999 all over again. To make it even more interesting, Garcia holes a brave par putt at 16 to stay just one behind.

1753: Ernie just misses his birdie putt at the last so he signs for a 69. Els reckoned he needed a 65 today and it looks as if that guess will prove spot on. A bold effort but he lost momentum after the sixth - ironically, when I stopped following him.

1750: Harrington eases his birdie putt up to the hole and taps in for par. He has the Open at his mercy. A par down the last may be good enough.

1748: Garcia misses the green at 16 while Harrington is on in two at 17. Harrington is now a hot 1/5 favourite at Sky Bet while Garcia is 10/3.

1745: Romero comes in the press tent for interview but hardly anyone is leaving their seats with such drama unfolding on the TVs in front of them.

1744: Good stuff from Gary Lineker. He interviews Andres Romero in Spanish by the 18th green and then translates for the viewers. Unless he's making it all up of course.

1737: The drama cranks up a notch as Harrington's birdie putt at 16 hangs on the edge of the hole but doesn't drop. But Garcia has it all on to make a par at 16 after coming up way short.

1730: Romero's par putt at the last lips out and his six under final round total will almost certainly not be good enough with Garcia and Harrington both at nine under. Barring something amazing, we'll have a European major winner for the first time since Carnoustie 1999.

1716: Game over for Ernie as he bogeys 15. Oh well, he gave us a great run.

1714: My best tip of the week. Within minutes of saying Romero makes a lot of doubles he goes and makes one at 17. The leaderboard now shows Harrington at -9, Garcia at -8 and Romero at -7.

1711: I need a sit down - hang on I am sitting down - as Harrington eagles the 14th to jump into the lead.

1710: Sensational. Romero's second to 17 takes a wicked bounce and ricochets out of bounds. He's now playing his fourth shot with a rescue club. The tournament takes another amazing twist as Garcia holes a birdie at the 13th before Romero plays a great fourth shot and could yet escape with a miracle five.

1700: Interestingly, Romero has a reputation for throwing in lots of double bogeys. He's already had one today, at the 12th, so if he can keep another off his card he might be the new Open champion. Els birdies 14 but is still three back.

1658: Sergio's putter has gone stone cold - the big fear if got into this position. But Romero's is on fire. He drains his birdie putt - his 10th of the day (incredible) - to move two shots clear. On Betfair, three grand has now been matched on the young Argentine at odds-on

1653: Another hurdle cleared for Romero as he hits the green on the long par three 16to to set up another birdie chance. But Ernie isn't throwing in the towel yet as he sets up a good eagle chance on 14.

1650: Extraordinary. Romero drains another lengthy putt and that's his ninth birdie of the day. He now leads the Open by a shot.

1647: Despite being caught by Harrington and Romero, Garcia's long game is back in synch. If he can just hole a few putts, the claret jug still beckons.

1645: Bogey from Ernie. Bad times.

1635: Excellent par putt from Ernie. Good times!

1622: Big roar. Harrington is tied for the lead alongside Garcia with Els one shot back in third.

1620: A big cheer from the Irish press boys as Harrington puts hisapproach close at the 11th. If he holes it he'll be tied for the lead.

1617: Romero makes double bogey and suddenly the wobbling Garcia is back in front again.

1610: Els is now just one back as Sergio bogeys five, seven and eight. And there's now a tie for the lead at -7 after back-to-back birdies from Andres Romero. But the young Argentine has just hit his second into a gorse bush and could be staring at double bogey. Padraig Harrington is just one back on -6, as is Steve Stricker.

1550: Ernie Els makes it look oh so easy as he follow him for the first six holes of his round. A big group of South Africans are in tow, including wife Liezl, and she lets out a whoop as Ernie holes a good one for birdie on two. A lovely wedge to three draws another birdie whoop and two more pars follow. Yesterday on the sixth he took a treble bogey eight so I watch rather anxiously to make sure there's no such nonsense this time. Ernie's drive hugs on to the left edge of the fairway and with his ball in play he makes another easy birdie to move to six-under. But where does it leave him overall? I've left my radio in the press tent so have to rely on a mixture of rumour, fact and misinformation. "Green is at eight under," says a voice which I can't quite believe. "Garcia is hitting it all over the place," says another but soon after another man says he's at "-10". As I watch Ernie make birdie on six, the mound I'm standing on near the fifth tee gives me a great view of Garcia and Stricker coming up the fourth. Stricker stiffs his approach to make birdie while Sergio just misses his. But where does it leave everyone? The scoreboard carrier is standing at the wrong angle and I can't crane my neck far enough to see the big yellow board. I make the walk in and see that the actual scores show Garcia at -9, Els, Romero and Stricker at -6 while Green is in the house on -5 after an excellent 64.

1320: Why isn't Tiger wearing red - his usual choice of shirt colour on the final day as he believes it symbolizes aggression and assertiveness. I guess there might well be a red shirt under his waterproofs but, without it, he seems to lack a bit of his usual final round menace. He's started with two pars so maybe he needs caddie Steve Williams to whip off his top, in a sort of Bucks Fizz style, and get the red on show. Another Open champ, Ben Curtis, continues to surge and is now -4 for the day and -1 overall after four birdies in his first 10 holes.

1255: Tiger hits an iron down the middle, puts his big gloves on and heads off down the fairway. Can he get off to a flying start?

1254: Tiger, sheltering under a big umbrella, strides to the first tee. It's still raining quite heavily but the sky is looking just a little brighter. Meanwhile, at the eighth, Curtis makes another birdie to go three under on his round and back to level for the tournament while Green follows suit but he's now at one under par and in a tie for 15th.

1250: A couple of decent scores are starting to appear. Richard Green, Charley Hoffman and 2003 Open champ Ben Curtis are all two under for their rounds today.

1245: John Henderson writes: "Hi Dave. I live in Bridge of Earn and have been watching the helicopters going back and forward to Carnoustie since the start of the Open. We keep waving in the hope that we give encouragement to all these great golfers who are battling against our wonderful Scottish weather!! At least a warm wave might make up for the lack of sunshine!!" Come on helicopter pilots, give John some sort of salute.

1235: Julian Wyatt in New Zealand writes: "Is it all a foregone conclusion or is the weather likely to play a part. Scores looking dodgy so far. I've a few runners still close - McGinley 200/1, Furyk 25/1, Singh 25/1 and Weir 100/1. Should I go to bed, or may drama ensue?" This is the Open Julian, you can't hit the sack yet! The poor weather certainly increases the chances of something really weird happening and I can't think Sergio will be happy watching TV pictures of greenkeepers emptying free-standing water from bunkers into buckets.

1215: Absolutely lashing it down here.

1205: There's debate as to how good a frontrunner Sergio Garcia has proved. Well, he's led or been joint leader 12 times and has converted seven, not much better than one in two. He didn't close out the last time he led - at the 2006 Buick Invitational - but on that occasion Tiger Woods was just one shot back and overtook him. I think it's hugely significant that Woods is a full eight shots back this time.

1155: Charley Hoffman is now two under par for his round after birdies at two and four but he's the exception to the rule this morning as most of the field have struggled over the early holes. Hard to believe that a man who lives in the hot desert heat of Las Vegas is doing so well although he has played well in poor conditions before.

1150: Pete McNeill in Dublin reckons Lee Westwood to beat Retief Goosen is a great two-ball bet today as the South African's tee to green play has been pretty awful this week. I agree Pete. The match begins in 10 minutes. "Have a few pints of 80 tonight," he adds. "I'm an exiled Scot and missing the beer."

1140: Despite the awful scoring, England's Jon Bevan has just played the 13th and 14th in three under after a birdie two on 13 and an eagle at 14.

1120: Ever wondered which player generates the fastest clubhead speed? Well, quite possibly not, but I'll tell you anway. I've just picked up a handout from a company called TrackMan. Based on Doppler radar technology, TrackMan measures exact 3-dimensional club movement and provides precise data on ball launch, ball flight and ball landing. It's been used at the two par fives this week and the top five club speed readings have all been made by Tiger Woods. Sergio occupies 6th, 8th, 13th and 15th while Angel Cabrera also has four entries in the top 15. John Daly has numbers 7 and 12. Woods has had the longest carry - 311 yards at the sixth - while others who carried it over 300 yards are Won Joon Lee, Cabrera, Davis Love, Mattias Eliasson, Phil Mickelson, Brett Wetterich, Adam Scott, Johan Edfors, Paul Casey, Daly and Stewart Cink.

1100: Just popped my head out of the press tent and the persistent rain shows no sign of letting up. Lots of drenched press and photographers are coming back and forth while just about everyone in here has a coat on. Remind me, it is July isn't it?

1045: Despite their different backgrounds, American Charley Hoffman and Dubai-based Scot Ross Bain both have the look of Californian surf dudes. Matt mentioned earlier this week that it would be great if the two shaggy-haired blonds were paired together and, amazingly, today they have been. The double dude two-ball surfs away in five minutes.

1040: I've been staying all week in a B&B in Arbroath - a quiet little town about a 15 minute drive up the coast. It's been a week of coincidences so it's fitting that I have some unlikely family history there. My grandfather was posted to Arbroath in the war, my gran came up to join him and worked in a local cafe and, if the dates are correct, my mother was conceived there! I'd love to have shared some recollections with my grandparents but unfortunately they're no longer with us. I've been thinking about them a lot though thisweek and it would be nice to bring my own wife and son up here one day. The 2010 Open is at St Andrews (about 25 miles from Arbroath) so perhaps that could be a good chance. Sorry if I'm being a bit wistful but there's nothing happening golfwise at the moment. Only England's Mark Foster is under par for the day but at +5 he's a massive 14 shots behind Sergio.

1015: And now the weather.... 0900-1200 Cloudy with 80% chance of patchy mainly light rain at first (1mm), becoming lighter, with longer drier spells developing. Wind W to SW 5mph, gust 8 possibly 10mph. 1200-1500 Cloudy. Mostly dry but 40% chance of some light rain showers at first. Wind SW 5mph with occasional gust 7 to 8mph. 1500-1900 Cloudy. Dry for most of the time but 30% chance of a light shower. Wind SW 4 to 7mph. So, despite the cold and rain, the winds are very light although scoring does seem difficult. The 18 players out there now are a collective 15 over par. It's possible the wind direction could be playing a part

1010: There are so many Japanese press and photographers here that it seems a shame that just one of their five entrants managed to make the cut this week. That was Toru Taniguchi, who had played in five previous Opens but only managed to break 70 once. This week he's struggled a bit too and a quick check of the leaderboard shows him down in tied 60th. To highlight the international appeal of this Open, a total of 18 different countries are represented today. Of the 70 players who made the cut, 26 are Americans while the rest of the country count is 11 England, 5 Australia, Sweden, 3 Scotland, South Africa, 2 Argentina, Denmark, France, Ireland, Spain, 1 Austria, Canada, Fiji, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Northern Ireland. A disappointing lack of Germans, Welshman and Italians.

0925: Our 14/1 headline tip Ernie Els needs to make a big move today if he's to catch Sergio but at least he has recent experience of a Sunday charge. Last week at Loch Lomond he was five back going into the final day and shot a superb 65 to finish just one back. Els quoted that same number '65' as the score he might need today but, even if he managed that, an under par round from Sergio would see the South African coming up short.

0910: Good morning from a very wet and cold Carnoustie. It's been raining since 6pm last night I'm told so conditions underfoot are extremely squelchy. Out on the course, the early starters aren't having much fun either. We saw a rash of early birdies on Saturday but the eight players in action so far are a collective one over par having played 18 holes between them.