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Harrington tops money list after dramatic finale

29/10/2006

Padraig Harrington has clinched his maiden European Order of Merit title after finishing joint second in a thrilling Volvo Masters in Valderrama.

After 51 weeks of golf, the Irishman edged out rival Paul Casey by £23,476 and finishes the season on an eye-watering €2,489,337.

Harrington, 35, finished runner-up along with Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia on one-under with India's Jeev Milkha Singh the surprise winner.

The turning point was Garcia's missed 30- foot putt to save par on the final hole which denied the Spaniard a play-off and handed Harrington the Harry Vardon Trophy for topping the money list.

Harrington turned on the style on the back nine to put himself in contention with a 35 foot birdie putt on the 16th, his third birdie in six holes.

He then recovered from poor approach shots on the final two holes to save par to finish on 69.

Englishman Casey, who started the day on six over par, never recovered from food poisoning which hampered his first round and finished on four over.

Casey had sneaked ahead after Garcia birdied the 16th before the Spaniard missed a birdie putt on the 17th and bogeyed the final hole.

Compatriot David Howell, who was also in contention for the Order of Merit title, made a disappointing final round of 71 to finish on even par along with Sweden's Niclas Fasth.

Harrington's triumph is the first by an Irishman since Ronan Rafferty's success in 1989.

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