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Portrush - Francesco Molinari said the tame nature of his Open Championship title defence at Royal Portrush this week was "bittersweet", after carding a third-round 72 to slip 10 shots adrift of the leaders.
LIVE: 148th Open Championship - Round 3
The Italian came into the week with high hopes of becoming the first player to defend the Claret Jug successfully since Padraig Harrington in 2008, but has not got out of second gear in Northern Ireland.
"Obviously I would have liked to have a better defence of my title, but at the same time you realise that you don't have the trophy but your name is still going to be on it," he said.
"So, bittersweet for now, that's all I can think."
Molinari had led the Masters heading into the final round in April earlier this year before being usurped by a resurgent Tiger Woods.
And he admitted the extra expectations may have held him back.
"I put too much pressure on me, especially the first day. But it's understandable," added the world No 7.
"It's not easy, obviously, especially the first time and having played well in other majors this year, obviously you come in with the high expectations.
"But you've seen it with Rory (McIlroy) and other guys. Golf is a funny game."
Scores from the third round of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Saturday (par 71):
197 - Shane Lowry (IRL) 67-67-63
201 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 68-67-66
203 - J.B. Holmes (USA) 66-68-69
204 - Brooks Koepka (USA) 68-69-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 69-67-68
205 - Rickie Fowler (USA) 70-69-66, Lee Westwood (ENG) 68-67-70
206 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 68-70-68, Jordan Spieth (USA) 70-67-69, Tony Finau (USA) 68-70-68, Danny Willett (ENG) 74-67-65
207 - Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-66-71, Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 68-69-70, Alexander Norén (SWE) 68-71-68, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 70-69-68, Andrew Putnam (USA) 70-67-70, Matt Kuchar (USA) 70-68-69
208 - Xander Schauffele (USA) 74-65-69
209 - Park Sang-Hyun (KOR) 69-72-68, Justin Thomas (USA) 71-70-68, Patrick Reed (USA) 71-67-71, Russell Knox (SCO) 70-71-68
210 - An Byeong-Hun (KOR) 73-67-70, Erik van Rooyen (RSA) 70-68-72, Justin Harding (RSA) 71-65-74, Webb Simpson (USA) 68-71-71, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 71-69-70, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 68-71-71
211 - Romain Langasque (FRA) 69-72-70, Rory Sabbatini (SVK) 70-70-71, Kevin Kisner (USA) 70-71-70, Dustin Johnson (USA) 72-67-72, Tom Lewis (ENG) 75-68-68, Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 68-72-71, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 73-70-68
212 - Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN) 70-68-74, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 68-73-71, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 72-69-71, Ernie Els (RSA) 71-69-72, Aaron Wise (USA) 72-69-71, Lucas Glover (USA) 72-69-71, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 70-71-71
213 - Yuki Inamori (JPN) 70-73-70, Hwang Inn-Choon (KOR) 72-71-70, Joost Luiten (NED) 73-69-71, Ryan Fox (NZL) 68-75-70, Charley Hoffman (USA) 70-73-70, Stewart Cink (USA) 74-68-71, Doc Redman (USA) 71-71-71
214 - Thomas Pieters (BEL) 72-68-74, Yosuke Asaji (JPN) 72-71-71, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 70-72-72, Andrew Wilson (ENG) 76-67-71
215 - Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 70-71-74, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 74-69-72, Benjamin Hébert (FRA) 73-69-73, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 74-69-72, Kyle Stanley (USA) 75-67-73, Paul Casey (ENG) 72-70-73, Matt Wallace (ENG) 73-70-72
216 - Branden Grace (RSA) 70-71-75, Bubba Watson (USA) 72-71-73, Jim Furyk (USA) 73-68-75, Kevin Streelman (USA) 77-65-74, Callum Shinkwin (ENG) 70-71-75
217 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 72-68-77, Jason Kokrak (USA) 74-69-74
218 - Nino Bertasio (ITA) 72-71-75, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-73-77, Eddie Pepperell (ENG) 70-72-76, Paul Waring (ENG) 75-68-75
219 - Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 70-72-77
220 - Ashton Turner (ENG) 69-74-77
