Pádraig and Rory notable absentees

THE ABSENCE of Pádraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy from this week’s Andalucia Masters has caused considerable disappointment in these parts.

The Andalucian government and the host venue are putting up a prize fund of €3m in an event that has effectively replaced the high profile Volvo Maters.

While no official complaint has been voiced, many people wonder why the Irish pair are absent.

“It is very disappointing and it hasn’t gone unnoticed that Pádraig and Rory also missed out on the Portugal Masters and the Castellon Masters,” said a member of the Andalucian tourist board.

“That’s a total of €8m that they were prepared to pass up and it’s the kind of money that’s getting scarcer and scarcer.

However, we are thrilled to have Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell, the leading two players on the Race to Dubai order of merit, and five other members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team playing this week.”

The other absentees from the Celtic Manor triumph are Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and the injured Lee Westwood.

But the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo; local star Miguel-Angel Jimenez, Sweden’s Peter Hanson, England’s Ross Fisher and, of course, Kaymer and McDowell, are all here chasing the first prize of €500,000.

It’s an important time for a number of Irishmen before the season ends in five weeks.

Darren Clarke is 28th on the money list and trying to push up to the top 15 who qualify for the €5m bonus event in Dubai at the end of November. Peter Lawrie is now up to 32nd and certain of making the elite 60-strong field at Dubai.

However, Damien McGrane and Gareth Maybin are 54th and 59th, respectively, and in need of a sizeable cheque to assure themselves a trip to the Middle East. Shane Lowry (63rd) is out of the Dubai field while Michael Hoey (95th) can ease any doubts about his card for 2011 with a decent finish here.