Murphy cuts to the chase in Majorca

GARY MURPHY will almost certainly save his European Tour card should he make the cut in the Majorcan Open this week — even though he is three places outside the top 115 on the order of merit who retain their playing privileges in 2007.

The good news for the Kilkenny man is that five of those inside the top 115 — Australian Adam Scott, South Africa’s Trevor Immelman, American Kevin Stadler, along with Stephen Ames of Canada and Charlie Wi of China — are not contesting the necessary 11 tournaments this year and so lose their membership of the European Tour.

Nevertheless, Murphy still has work to do and certainly needs to improve on his recent form to survive into the weekend in Majorca.

He looked to have saved his card by finishing third in the Russian Open in mid-August but he has done precious little in the meantime, with the result that he has fallen back to 118th in the money list with a total of €194,444.

Waterville’s David Higgins finds himself in an even more precarious situation. He is 127th with €169,638 and needs a top 10 finish this week if he is to avoid a return to the European Tour School at San Roque next month. However, his luck could be changing because a week ago David was only eighth reserve for Majorca but is now guaranteed a starting place.

Michael Hoey is also in the field but given that he is 191st in the money list, he looks a certainty for the Tour School, along with Dubliner Stephen Browne (153rd), who is first reserve for Majorca.

Paul McGinley is currently no better than 65th in the money list and has entered this week in the hope of improving on that lowly status, although he does qualify for the lucrative season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama next week as defending champion.

Peter Lawrie is also playing in Majorca in a last desperate bid to crash the top 60 and so get to Valderrama. He is 68th at present in the order of merit with €360,889, just over €30,000 behind Argentinian Richardo Gonzalez in the 60th and last spot for the Volvo Masters.

Damien McGrane (53rd) also goes to Majorca and is safe for next week unless he is the victim of unforeseen developments at Pula.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Padraig Harrington as he attempts to further bridge the gap between himself and Paul Casey and perhaps even overtake his Ryder Cup teammate at the top of the order of merit.

Casey is chilling out at his Arizona home and third-placed David Howell is nursing a shoulder injury so this is the Irishman’s chance to pounce. In essence, Harrington can supplant Casey as the new number one by winning the €291,660 first prize which would propel him to €2,482,717 to Casey’s €2,409,242. With a winner’s cheque for €666,660 awaiting the winner of the Volvo Masters, there is everything to play for this week.

“The Order of Merit is directly behind the Majors,” says Harrington. “You can win whatever tournaments you like, but you’re going to be judged at the end of your career on how many majors you’ve won and after that you’re going to be judged on whether you led the Order of Merit. I would definitely like to have an order of merit on my CV.”