Exhausted double 2008 major champion Padraig Harrington said on Tuesday he would crawl to this week’s Dunhill Links Championship as he aims to win Europe’s order of merit for a second time.
In his first event back after a disappointing Ryder Cup, the Irishman is aiming to extend his lead at the top of the European money list after Briton Lee Westwood closed the gap with a runner-up place at last week’s British Masters.
“I would never not be here. I’d crawl over to this tournament,” Harrington told a news conference, adding that blood tests revealed he has been badly run down.
“I was low in antioxidants, my white blood cells were too active, basically showing that I’m fatigued.”
The British Open and U.S. PGA Championship holder is going all out to add the 545,811 euros ($781,400) first prize to his 2,350,556 euro haul and distance him from fellow Ryder Cup man Westwood who lies less than a quarter of million euros behind.
“I would be here (St Andrews) full stop but I think that’s (order of merit) the prime reason why I’m trying a little bit harder this week because I know this is a good chance for me,” the 2006 order of merit winner said.
“I’ve got two tournaments left, this and the Volvo Masters. I think I’ve got to play really well in one of them in order to win the order of merit. If I can win one of the two, I think that more or less guarantees me the order of merit.”
The triple major winner is anxious to get the job done quickly as this week’s competition is played over three of his favoured courses in rotation - St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Harrington won the tournament over the three in 2002 and 2006 and captured his first major title at the 2007 British Open in Carnoustie.
“The Volvo Masters is on a golf course that’s really hard work for me. These courses aren’t. These really suit me, while Valderrama (Volvo Masters venue) doesn’t necessarily suit me.”
Ten of Europe’s losing Ryder Cup team - only Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter are absent - feature in the event which starts on Thursday.
