Padraig Harrington bolstered his assault on the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open title at Dundonald Links – and then played down his chances of making a triumphant return to Birkdale in next week’s Open Championship.

Harrington was heading into the weekend’s action at Dundonald Links in an ideal position having added a tidy four-under 68 to his opening 67 for a nine-under 135.

Harrington famously retained the Claret Jug the last time the Open was held at Birkdale back in 2008 as the Irishman followed up his victory at Carnoustie the previous year to become the first European to successfully defend the title since James Braid in 1906.

The 45-year-old will return to the famed Southport links next week for the 146th championship but, despite his fine links masterclass so far at Dundonald, the Dubliner was keen to temper the growing clamour that he can roll back the years and conquer Birkdale again.

Harrington, who reeled off four birdies in a tidy round to boost his bid for a 16th European Tour win, said: “I committed to my preparation four weeks ago and I’m just in the middle of that just now.

“Who knows whether I keep that going. Coming down the stretch on Sunday, under pressure, I may have blown it all by next week?

“That’s just the nature of the game. I know my preparation is right but it’s not a science and you can’t say ‘I’m going to peak at this exact week’. Maybe I’m hitting form a week too early so let’s just see how the rest of this weekend goes.

“I’m not surprised I’m playing well here but I can’t do it on demand. I can’t tell you it’s going to happen. It’s just part of the sequence of ups and downs and I’ll just patiently wait for the ups.”

Harrington’s glory laden summer of the 2008 capped a stunning run of success for the former Ryder Cup star. As well as completing back-to-back Open wins, he went on to add the US PGA title to his collection as he sealed a shimmering triple whammy of Major moments.

Harrington wouldn’t win again on either the PGA Tour or the European circuit for seven years until he won the Honda Classic in 2015.

Having wrestled with a variety of golfing demons, Harrington insists he has now found a sense of contentment with his career.

He added: “When I came out on the Tour, I played with some of the elder statesmen and I used to watch them fighting it (their game) and I would ask ‘why are you fighting it?’. They would say, ‘well, if I can just win one more tournament’. I would think that they have already done everything that they are going to do. One more tournament is not going to change it. And I’d hate to be that guy.

“Sometimes, I get frustrated with my golf and I might have been playing with two young guys and we haven’t said a word to each other all day. We sit down for lunch afterwards and they can’t stop quizzing me. In other words, I get a lot of respect from the younger players.

“If you’re fighting it too much, that’s not what they want to see. So I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve pretty much done what I’m going to do in the game. I will win tournaments and I enjoy being out here still so why bother beating myself up over it.

“If I win another Major or three Majors it’s not going to change me. I’m now enjoying what I’m doing and just letting it happen.”

On the local front, meanwhile, there was disappointment for Glasgow exile Martin Laird as he missed the cut with a 151. The three-time PGA Tour winner, who will now head south to begin preparations for the Open, was on the back foot after an opening 75.

His hopes of avoiding an early exit suffered an immediate blow when he leaked three shots on his first three holes and a 76 confirmed Laird’s departure.

Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher was leading the Scottish challenge on a four-under tally after a second round 72.