Harrington heads Irish contingent in Dutch Open

After Sunday’s victory for Thomas Bjorn in the Swiss Alps, the battle for 2014 European Ryder Cup points continues this week in the KLM Dutch Open at Kennemer, Zandvoort, with a €1.8m prize fund on offer.

Pádraig Harrington, who flattered to deceive at the weekend and finished 17 strokes behind Bjorn, leads the Irish challenge which includes Shane Lowry, Simon Thornton, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin, Paul McGinley and David Higgins.

The only Irish golfers currently within the top 60 who qualify for the lucrative season-ending Dubai World Championship and bonus pool are Graeme McDowell, (2nd); Lowry, (46th); McIlroy (53rd) and Harrington (60th). Some of our regular tour players have work to do to retain their cards for 2014. The top 110 do so and the current Irish rankings after the Omega European Masters are: 2nd: McDowell 1,693,388; 46th: Lowry 499,903; 53rd: McIlroy 445,811; 60th: Harrington 375,101; 77th: Gareth Maybin 300,962; 86th: Michael Hoey 269,893; 94th: Damien McGrane 245,629; 105th: Peter Lawrie 217,107; 127th: Darren Clarke 140,371; 134th: Gareth Shaw 116, 654; 135th: Paul McGinley 115,241; 136th: Simon Thornton 112,354; 166th: David Higgins, 69, 667.