February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Harrington’s earnings for the year amounted to euro 2,334,655.45, which was topped only by Retief Goosen, whose bankroll grew by euro 2,360,127.65 in 2002.
Neither Harrington nor Goosen were factors at Valderrama and were mainly involved in their own intramural skirmish. Goosen tied for 34th place with a 72-hole total of 296, which was one stroke better than Harrington’s 297 (74-76-74-73).
Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie shared medallist honors. They proceeded to a playoff after carding identical scores of 281 after 72 holes. They remained even through two playoff holes, when the event was declared a draw as darkness settled over Spain.
Darren Clarke tied for 10th place at 288 (73-69-75-71). Graeme McDowell shared 55th position at 302 (72-81-69-80), with Paul McGinley close behind at 305 (76-77-78-74), which was good for a share of 60th place.
“It wasn’t a nervous kind of pressure,” Harrington said, explaining his failure. “It was the pressure of outside distractions, not necessarily on the golf course. In a normal tournament there’s only pressure over the last nine holes or whatever, but I’ve never experienced anything like this. It was disappointing because it meant a lot to me to win the order of merit.”
CHAMPIONS TOUR
If the first round of qualifying is any harbinger, the former Senior PGA Tour should have two Irish members in 2003. Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth easily won their respective qualifiers and stand poised to advance through the finals, which are scheduled for Nov. 19-22 at World Woods Golf Club in Brooksville, Fla.
Darcy shot 276 (69-71-69-67) at MetroWest Country Club in Orlando, Fla., to bag his bracket by four strokes over Randy Erskine.
Smyth, meanwhile, was slotted at Marsh Creek Country Club in St. Augustine, Fla., where he carded 277 (70-70-67-70). Also advancing from that field was former major league hurler Rick Rhoden, who shot 289.
PGA TOUR Q-SCHOOL
It’s back to the salt mines for Richie Coughlan. The Co. Offaly golfer was knocked out of a second-round qualifier at Stonebridge Country Club in McKinney, Texas. Coughlan shot 301 (70-72-78-81) and missed the final advancement position by nine strokes. His final-round 81 was typical of the field for that day. The third-round 78 was not, however.