We’ve been here before: Pádraig Harrington rolling up his sleeves, keeping his head down and getting on with the job at hand. After a three hours and 14 minutes weather delay to the second round of this 144th British Open, Harrington - who took the opportunity to grab a nap in a tour van near the driving range - went back out to shoot a 69 for 141, three-under-par, to move into contention.

As Danny Willett assumed the clubhouse lead with a final hole birdie for a 69 for 135, nine-under, Harrington - who captured the Claret Jug in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008 - was something like his old self as he came home in 33 strokes with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 18th holes to make a move.

After a slow start, which included a poor bogey on the second where he failed to find the green with his approach and then failed to birdie the par five fifth hole, Harrington finally got some forward momentum with a birdie on the seventh.

“ It would be nice to get into contention coming down the stretch and perform. We’ll see what happens. It’s a long way off. No matter what, I’m going to need a big weekend. Could be a pair of 65s I need over the weekend, who knows? But obviously the weather will determine quite a lot . . . . but, still, 69 is a reasonable return, and certainly after being one-over through six holes and not much happening for me, it was quite a good return,” said Harrington.

His round turned with a five-iron approach to ten feet on the 13th - for a birdie against the head, so to speak - and, keeping mistakes off the card, he managed further birdies on the 14th, chipping close, and the 18th, where he drove to left of the green and pitched to four feet for a closing birdie.

“I’m pleased with my attitude. That was probably the best part of it. You know, I could tell you everything I’d like to do better but you don’t have enough time. My attitude was good. That was the main thing,” said Harrington.