Sparks set to fly at Vilamoura showdown

NO punches will be pulled when Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the European Tour players committee, and three times major champion Pádraig Harrington meet in the Algarve prior to this week’s Portugal Masters at the Oceânico Victoria Club in Vilamoura.

Bjorn launched an astonishing attack on Harrington after the Irishman disagreed with plans by the European Tour to tighten up membership rules in 2010. The most contentious proposal is that all members would have to play in five specified tournaments, something which didn’t sit well with Harrington, who is also a member of the US Tour and nowadays spends a large part of his season over there.

Bjorn in turn was enraged when informed that Harrington was quoted as “not believing in protectionism” and wondered aloud “if this may be a case for the European Union”.