Harrington shoots to European top spot

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON can at last call himself the number one player in Europe after his exciting one-shot victory in the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan.

The Irishman shot straight to the top of the Volvo Order of Merit after what was officially the first event of the 2003 season.

While Harrington would have preferred to have hit the top spot three weeks ago when he was pipped at the post by Retief Goosen for the 2002 money list title he was still delighted to have regained his focus and begun the season so positively.