Harrington faces daunting defence

Padraig Harrington has to beat 10 of the world’s top 12 if he is to make a successful defence of the Barclays Classic in America this week.

Mind you, it could have been even tougher for the Dubliner. Ernie Els was due to play as well, but after a closing 81 in the Memorial tournament the South African star announced he was taking the week off and will prepare for the US Open in private instead.

World number one Tiger Woods is the other absentee among the game’s elite dozen as Harrington goes for a repeat of the victory achieved in stunning fashion 12 months ago with an eagle putt of 66 feet on the final green.

It remains his last win and the 34-year-old, ninth in the world this time last year, is seeking to reverse a slide that now sees him down at 28th in the rankings.

Recent results, however, suggest Harrington has begun to turn things around. On his last three European tour starts he has finished 14th, 11th and then sixth in the BMW Championship at Wentworth.

David Howell, Jose Maria Olazabal and Luke Donald – 10th, 11th and 12th in the world – are all taking part, with Donald partnering Masters champion Phil Mickelson and his likely Ryder Cup partner Chris DiMarco in the first two rounds.

Howell tees off in the company of Justin Rose, who on Monday failed to come through a play-off in one of the US Open qualifying tournaments.

Ian Poulter finished joint first in that event to book his place at Winged Foot next week and having finished the Memorial tournament with a 67 on Sunday he will not be short of confidence.

Nor, of course, will Swede Carl Pettersson, whose victory at Muirfield Village over eight of the game's top 10 confirmed him as one of Europe’s rising stars.

It is about time, meanwhile, Sergio Garcia reminded everybody who is actually Europe’s leading player in the rankings.

The 26-year-old Spaniard has not tasted victory since the start of September, but it was this week last year he fired a closing 65 to win the Booz Allen Classic.