Harrington eyes return to form in China

THE FINAL shots of the 2007 European Tour season were fired at Valderrama on Sunday but that does not mean the end of the year for the top professionals.

Many of them are in China this week for the HSBC Champions tournament — the first event on the 2008 European calendar.

It is confined to tournament winners from each of the five major tours and any others among the top 50 who show a desire to take part. Generous appearance money has been paid to ensure a high quality field, the prize fund is a handsome €4 million and there is no cut. Pádraig Harrington is the lone Irishman involved and while disappointed after relinquishing his grip on the European Tour Order of Merit on Sunday, he hopes defeat will drive him to great things in Shanghai.

Said Harrington: “I won’t necessarily be well prepared for this week but in a strange way I think the disappointment of Valderrama will only spur me on. I’ll be trying harder rather than taking it easy over the next few weeks. What has happened will take the shine off my year for the moment but not for long. Being Open champion is definitely a far bigger deal.”

After China, Harrington moves to Japan to defend the Dunlop Masters in which he defeated Tiger Woods in a play-off 12 months ago. He then returns home to Dublin for a series of social events including the launch of a book detailing his golfing exploits.

The birth of his second child at the end of the month will, of course, take precedence over all else before his last tournament of the year, Tiger Woods’ Target World Challenge at the Sherwood Country Club in California.

Having to settle for third spot on the Order of Merit hurt Harrington more than one might have imaged although his sense of gloom was deepened by the frustration he felt at a decision handed to his playing partner Martin Kaymer during Sunday’s final round. It had to do with the line of sight rule after the German dropped under penalty having put his ball into an unplayable lie in a bush.

Whether he was right or wrong in disagreeing with the referee’s decision, it was totally out of character and clearly wrong for such an experienced player to let it affect him. Once the ruling was handed down, it was no longer a matter for Harrington and while he didn’t want to talk about it afterwards, admitted it damaged his concentration, very probably with enormous consequences for his Order of Merit chances.

Harrington, 3rd with €2,463,742, was leading Irishman on the 2007 tour followed by Graeme McDowell, 37th on €789,663. Then came Peter Lawrie, 66th, €450,091; Damien McGrane (73rd), €412, 672; Paul McGinley (74th), €392, 852; Gary Murphy (87th) €308,428; Rory McIlroy (95th) €277,252; Darren Clarke (138th) €172,110. All of these players have retained their cards for the 2008 season (Clarke on the basis of his career earnings).

Sadly, illness has cost David Higgins his chance of returning to the big time. In late August at a stage when he was playing great golf (163rd in the rankings with €136,320), he was struck by a mystery illness that has prevented him from playing since and has forced him to withdraw from the Tour qualifying school in a fortnight’s time. His manager, Conor Ridge, is hopeful that a medical exemption will allow the Waterville man to continue in 2008 where he left off this year once he is fully fit again.

Meanwhile, a number of Irish players, including Peter O’Keeffe of Douglas, Noel Fox, Mark Campbell, Gary Cullen, Chris Devlin, Michael Hoey, Michael McGeady, Damien Mooney and Alan Murray are participating in this week’s second European Tour School pre-qualifier at various venues throughout Spain.

Colm Moriarty and Stephen Browne are already through to the final School at San Roque on November 15-20.