Harrington can become $6 million man
Pooped Padraig Harrington can become Irish golf's $6 million man over the next three weeks.
The exhausted European No 1 already has already banked $4.1 million this season after winning twice around the world.
But while he can take his winnings of the season beyond the $6 million mark with three massive end-of-season money spinners, he believes that only birdies can motivate him.
He said: "I can play the golf, but looking at the next three weeks I need to start well in the tournament or else there is trouble ahead.
"I think I can get the adrenaline going on Thursday morning but I need a winter break, I know that.
"I have three weeks that I am committed to. But I definitely thought, especially after winning the Order of Merit, about shutting down for the winter and not playing until after Christmas.
"I was tired. I knew that but I had committed to going to China for the HSBC and to Japan for the Dunlop Phoenix and I am committed for the next three weeks."
This week, Harrington is playing in $4.38 million Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, where the winner of the elite 12-man event will trouser a cool $1.2 million.
From there he heads to Barbados for the World Cup and a possible 50 percent share of $1.4 million with Paul McGinley in the 28 nation event.
If that isn't enough to keep him smiling, Harrington is set to finish his season in Tiger Woods' $5.75 million Target World Challenge in California.
The winner at Sherwood Country Club gets €1.35 million with the man finishing in 16th and last place is guaranteed a tasty $175,000.
And that should be more than enough to keep Harrington motivated, despite his complaints that he is exhausted after a gruelling season.
Basking in the glory of his recent play-off win over Tiger Woods in Japan, Harrington confessed that he has been too tired to practice recently.
He said: "I am going more because I am committed. I think I would go to the World Cup no matter what. But I am tired.
"The tiredness is not a very big task. But you need that little kick in the morning to get up and get out there."
Harrington remained at No 8 in the latest world rankings and is the top European player in the world.
And while there are no world ranking points on offer in this week's Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, the Order of Merit winner is determined to continue his hot streak at the Gary Player Country Club.
The Nedbank Challenge - formerly known as the Million Dollar Challenge - has attracted five of the world's top 10 including world No 2 and defending champion Jim Furyk.
South Africans Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman and Charl Schwartzel are joined by Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, David Howell, Chris DiMarco, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal.
On the European Tour, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie will tee it up in the Blue Chip New Zealand Open while on the Challenge Tour, Colm Moriarty, Tim Rice, Stephen Browne and Michael Hoey are entered in the Campeonato Abierto Visa de la Republica in Buenos Aires.