Harrington the favourite as world’s top 60 desert Qatar

AS the only representative of the world’s top 60, Pádraig Harrington will never be a stronger favourite for a golf tournament than he is for the Qatar Masters starting today.

But the Irishman, not put off from playing despite so many of his European tour colleagues flying home from the Middle East with war looming, sounded a note of caution.

"My main battle is always with myself, not with whoever else is playing," he said, focusing his attentions on the matter in hand rather than the worrying political situation.