Harrington in no mood for celebrations after row

PADRAIG HARRINGTON plays for Ireland in golf’s World Cup this week, desperately hoping to avoid the controversy which has stopped him celebrating his latest victory.

Harrington was part of the Britain and Ireland team which beat Continental Europe 15-13 at El Saler in fact, he was the one who guaranteed they kept the Seve Trophy.

But celebrations were not on his mind as he headed out of Spain on Sunday before flying to Kiawah Island in South Carolina, where he and Paul McGinley will be back together six years on from their World Cup triumph on the same course.

The reason for that was a dispute with Jose Maria Olazabal in what proved to be the decisive singles.

The two highly-respected and hugely popular professionals, Ryder Cup team-mates in 1999, were on the third green when Olazabal pointed to what he thought were pitch marks.

He was allowed to repair them if they were. But Rule 16-1c states that while a player "may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball", it also says he cannot touch "any other damage if it might assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole".

Harrington had his doubts and thought a referee was needed. But as he turned to look for the official following their game, Olazabal started his repair work - and when Harrington spoke to him the Spanish star conceded the hole.

There was a stony silence between the two as the match progressed. But after Harrington birdied the last for a half, the pair spent 15 minutes talking beside the green.

The Dubliner then said: "It is not worth losing a friend over, but we had 15 very awkward holes after that big time.

"I was not trying to question his integrity. But that is what he thought, and I can 100% see his side. I certainly won't be celebrating, and it is not the way I would have liked to get a half point.

"My reaction put Jose in a very difficult position, and he did the honourable thing in his eyes and conceded the hole not that I wanted him to.

"I was happy to take a half there, but he was put in an awkward situation and did all that he thought he could."

Olazabal said: "I don't want to spend any time talking about it. We had a difference of opinion, and I am not going to waste any more time talking about it."

Meanwhile, after four failures to win back his European tour card, Philip Walton match-winning hero of the 1995 Ryder Cup has kept alive his hopes of making it fifth time lucky, by the skin of his teeth. Damien McGrane, on the other hand, made light of the task and was only three shots behind leader Francois Delamontagne.

Walton's four-under-par 68 in the fourth round of the qualifying school at Pals in northern Spain enabled him to survive the cut with nothing to spare.

It needed three birdies in the last five holes after he feared he had blown his chances with a triple-bogey seven which threatened to be even more damaging until he got up and down from a bunker.

But that is only the first hurdle. Walton lies joint 71st and to reignite his tour career he has to climb into the top 35 and ties in the two remaining rounds at nearby Emporda.

At six under par, he trails 14 strokes behind French leader Francois Delamontagne but for the top 35 Walton is likely to need a finishing score of around 16 under.

Two Irishmen not so lucky were David Higgins and Michael Hoey. Hoey, another member of the side and 2001 British amateur champion, missed by two.

Ian Woosnam will make his 17th appearance in golf's World Cup this week - after agreeing to step in for 'flu victim Phillip Price.

The former Masters champion, who made his debut in the tournament in 1980, will partner Bradley Dredge.

Thomas Bjorn has also scratched from Denmark's side because of his neck injury and Soren Kjeldsen will be joined instead by last year's Volvo PGA champion Anders Hansen.