Harrington continues in rich vein of form

THE late summer charge to make amends for a season of frustration continued for Pádraig Harrington in Atlanta last night as he moved into contention for an US$11 million FedEx Cup bonanza at the Tour Championship.

Harrington, the in-form player coming into this PGA Tour finale at East Lake Golf Club following five top-10 finishes in five starts, is still seeking a first victory of a year that had until the first week of August looked like a write off.

And after a strong opening 67 last night, that first win of 2009 could well come in the most lucrative of events, for in addition to a $1.35m first prize, a victory for Harrington in tandem with a scenario involving a third place for Tiger Woods would net him a $10m bonus as the FedEx Cup champion.