Fear factor drives Harrington towards top spot

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will begin his bid to go one better on the Order of Merit today — but do not expect too many smiles along the way.

Two weeks after being pipped by Retief Goosen on the European money list for 2002, the affable Irishman will get straight back into action on what is the first event of the 2003 tour the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan.

A superb season for Harrington was partially spoiled by his inability to grab one of a number of opportunities to overtake the South African a feat which would surely have banished forever talk he has a tendency to fluff his lines when one hand is seemingly on a trophy.