91Èȱ¬

Simon Khan suffered his worst weather at an Open Championship as he slipped to a seven-over 77 on day three at rain-lashed Royal St George's.

"I didn't think you'd get tougher than the first round at Birkdale in 2008, but that was another level," said the experienced Essex golfer.

"It started nasty and just rained all the way round. The back nine you just couldn't keep hold of the club.

"It was one of those days when you have to grind it out. Unbelievably brutal."

Khan resumed on three over, having only just made the cut. But as the wind got up and the rain worsened, he dropped shots at three, four and six.

He then got one back with a birdie at the long seventh, only to suffer a double bogey six at the eighth to go out in 39.

The man from Epping bogeyed the par-three 11th, only to give himself hope with a birdie at 13, but three more dropped shots at 14, 15 and 17 saw him return to the clubhouse on 10 over.

That was still a shot better than his playing partner, Frenchman Gregory Havret, who ran up a 10 at the long 14th.

"It was playing like a par six there today," smiled Khan, "So, I actually made par.

"You were barely making the fairway off the tee and, with out of the bounds on the right, you have to hit it left. Greg had no lie in the rough and ended up with a 10.

"They put one or two tees up, but they could have done more.

"We both hit three irons at six and only made the front edge. And, on 17, 426 yards, he hit driver, driver and was short.

"It was one of those days when you just have to do as best as you can and hope you chip and putt very well."