Padraig courts discord with Wentworth withdrawal

PADRAIG HARRINGTON is not one to court controversy but lately it seems to follow him around.

It will take some time yet before the hullabaloo occasioned by his weekend dismissal of his faithful caddy Dave McNeilly dies down. And while all that slips away, there is also his decision not to compete in this week's Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth.

He is taking this step for the second successive year because of his dislike for the Wentworth course and especially its greens at this time of year.

However, some of his fellow professionals have been loud in voicing their disapproval, pointing out that it is the richest event on the European Tour and that Volvo are ploughing more money into the European Tour than any other sponsor, given that they also support the Scandinavian Masters and, more especially, the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama.

European Tour officials have pointed this out to Harrington, hoping for a change of mind. But he simply insists: "I'm not one for following the pack. Wentworth doesn't suit my game right now because I'm hitting the ball so high and also because of the poa annua grass that creeps into the greens at this time of year.

"I have never done well there in the spring and I would be wasting my time going there.

"That doesn't mean I won't be back in the future, but not right now."

European Tour chiefs like Ken Schofield, George O'Grady and John Paramor won't comment on the record but have indicated their keen disappointment that the top European in the world continues to skip their biggest tournament.

"Padraig is perfectly entitled to play when and where he likes and that's why we have to remain off the record," said one Tour official.

"But Volvo are wonderful sponsors and the PGA Championship is our most prestigious event. We expect all our top players to be there and they are more or less with one notable exception.

"Padraig is entitled to his view that Wentworth doesn't suit his game, but it is widely regarded as one of the best courses in the world and we are proud to stage the PGA there every year.

"Surely there are other venues throughout the year that don't suit his style of play and he still turns up and takes his chances."

Given that Harrington has an eye on the European Tour order of merit title at the end of the year, it is even more confusing to many that he should pass up on an event offering a massive €3.75m prize fund.

He is currently in fourth place behind Ernie Els, Miguel-Angel Jimenez and Trevor Immelman, but there is little between them considering the money yet to be played for.

The three leaders will be at Wentworth, whereas Harrington will be in Dublin preparing for an extended visit to America, starting with next week's Memorial Tournament in Ohio and followed by the Buick Classic at Westchester, New York, and the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island.

It could be argued that it's a bit rich for Ernie Els to pass comment on the Harrington situation, considering he cherry-picks his appearances in Europe, preferring for the most part to compete in the US. But he still spoke for many when he commented on Sunday: "I'm surprised, very surprised, that Padraig isn't supporting the Tour's flagship tournament.

"You must respect his attitude, but it's one I find difficult to understand."

However, it's a road Harrington has been down before and as he regularly points out, he must do what is best for him and he certainly isn't afraid to do so, no matter who or what he hurts in the process.

Nor is the PGA the only big tournament he will skip as he tries to keep his schedule on an even keel.

He also misses out on the French and Scottish Opens, among others, in the process, clearly damaging his prospects of capturing the order of merit title.

And then there's the unfortunate debacle of Padraig's parting of the ways from Dave McNeilly.

However worthy he feels his motivation may have been, there is no denying that the manner in which it was handled was an absolute cock-up.

Harrington will see out 2004 with his close friend Ronan Flood on his bag and will then commence the search for a successor to McNeilly.

JP Fitzgerald, who recently parted company with Darren Clarke, is not a runner, nor is Colin Montgomerie's long-time caddy Alister McLean, who is also unemployed.

Otherwise, all the top men are tied up and will be until the end of the 2004 campaign.

Yorkshire man Billy Foster, who enjoyed two successful and lengthy stints with Darren Clarke, would be the ideal man except he is on Thomas Bjorn's bag.

But as Dave McNeilly would agree, no alliance is sacred in the fickle world of professional golf.