Harrington tips Rory for the top

FOR the first time in a while, Pádraig Harrington doesn’t mind not being the centre of pre-tournament attention.

The triple Major winner has come to Dubai for the season-ending Dubai World Championship with the media focus on Rory McIlroy, who attempts to become the second youngest golfer to be crowned European number one.

McIlroy enters the event leading Lee Westwood by €128,173 and in pole position to claim the stunning new-look Vardon Trophy.

And Harrington is confident the former Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star can claim the spoils.

Harrington admitted: “If you were a betting man, you would be betting on him. It is massive to be going into the event with the lead he has built up and Rory could win without doing anything.

“Rory is in a great situation and given the way he has been playing of late, he stands a good chance to also win the tournament outright.”

Harrington laughed: “I hope he wins the Order of Merit and I hope I win the tournament! Both of us would be happy with that. If it is coming down the stretch between the two of us, it would be a good tough game. I will concentrate on what I have to do every week and while it might seem a little different for those working in the media and reporting on the golf, from my side of things it still feels very much like I am here to win this event. Even though I can’t win the Order of Merit, there is still going to be a lot of prestige in trying to win the Dubai World Championship.

“That is the same in any event you tee-up because you’re teeing-up for to win that particular tournament.”

But he reiterated that the Co Down native is the man the star-studded field has to beat.

“He’s in a great position, he doesn’t have to worry about the other guys, they have to worry about him,” said Harrington.

Harrington was 15 years older and had contested more than 225 events when he won the Order of Merit in 2006.

McIlroy will end his second full season this week having contested just 58 European Tour events as a professional.

“Rory has shown so much talent in his short time out here that it doesn’t surprise me that he is in contention for an Order of Merit title,” said Harrington.

“He is so talented, and good luck to him this week, It would be a massive accomplishment, at such a young age as he is. But the thing about Rory is that you don’t see him as a 20-year old. You just see him as a fellow competitor.”

This week’s event boasts 22 winners from this European Tour season with McIlroy the youngest.

McIlroy, who captured the Dubai Desert Classic in February, also enjoys the most top-10 finishes of the field with 13 from 24 events.

And the 36-year-old Westwood, who is looking to capture a second European Number One title after a first in 2000, paid McIlroy a big tribute ahead of their first-round pairing tomorrow.

Westwood said: “I have a lot of respect for everybody who plays golf well but with Rory being 20, it’s remarkable, how good he’s become so quickly. He may be the best young player in the world.”

Westwood needs to finish first or second in the event to win the title – once McIlroy does not do likewise – or have Kaymer win the event. However there is one scenario Westwood would dearly love to see materialise but the 19-time European Tour winner knows is not going to happen.

“I would like to have about a 15-shot lead with one hole to play on Sunday evening but I don’t think that is going to happen,” joked Westwood.