Harrington needs a three-mendous finale to triumph

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON managed to finish all square in a practice match with Phil Mickelson yesterday but the Irishman is staring at much higher stakes when he tees-up in this week’s Singapore Open.

Harrington has three official money list counting events remaining this year and if he wants to become the inaugural Race to Dubai champion, he will need to win all three.

The Dubliner is currently lying 16th on the money list with earnings in his 13 Race to Dubai counting events of €1,056,462. It puts Harrington €1,185,478 behind England’s Lee Westwood who leads the competition from German Martin Kaymer who moved back to second place after finishing joint runner-up last week in Spain.

“I am probably going to have to win all three if I am to win the Race to Dubai title,” Harrington said.

“I’m always trying to win every week but these next three events take on that extra importance.

“Also I am going to have to expect those ahead of me to play well over the next few weeks.

“So that’s why I’m probably going to have to capture all three or go very close to winning the three.”

Harrington will next week head to Shanghai for the WGC – HSBC Champions event ahead of joining the leading 60 money earners on November 19 for the season-closing Dubai World Championship.

Harrington and Darren Clarke up teamed yesterday to hold onto their cash and square a practice round match against world number two Mickelson and Bob Diamond, an executive from Barclays who are sponsoring this week’s $5m (€3.37m) Singapore Open which is a joint European and Asian co-sanctioned event.

Harrington and Clarke were one down heading to the last on the host Sentosa course but managed to win the final hole and halve the encounter.

Meanwhile Gary Murphy jetted into Singapore early last night after receiving a late call up from the sponsors to compete in the event.

The Kilkenny-born pro is presently 123rd on the Race to Dubai money list but only €13,878 shy of breaking inside the top-115 that will secure automatic 2010 Tour membership. Murphy looked set to be sitting out two weeks before heading to Australia for the co-sanctioned Australian Masters in Melbourne.

“I’m really fortunate to get an invite and I have to thank the sponsors because this time last week I was staring at just one last tournament this year so now I have two last bites of the cherry,” he said.