Harrington rules out Portugal dash

Padraig Harrington has ruled out a last gasp dash to Portugal to shadow Robert Karlsson in the Order of Merit title race.

The Dubliner, 37, was knocked off top spot in the money list on Sunday when his Ryder Cup team mate snatched the Dunhill Links title in sudden-death.

But while he’s now €142,425 behind Karlsson in the race for the Harry Vardon Trophy, he won’t be joining the beanpole Swede or third ranked Lee Westwood in next week’s Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.

Instead, the Open and US PGA champion will head to Bermuda to take on Masters winner Trevor Immelman and former US Open champions Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen in the $1.35m PGA Grand Slam of Golf next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Even if Karlsson or Westwood wins the €500,000 top prize Portugal, the Dubliner could still lift his second Order of Merit title with victory in the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, where the winner will take home €708,330.

Harrington will be keen to make amends for last year’s sudden-death defeat to Argentina’s Angel Cabrera in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Bermuda’s Mid Ocean Club.

“El Pato” started the final round with a triple bogey but finished birdie-eagle to tie with Harrington before winning with a birdie at the third extra hole.

This year’s PGA Grand Slam champion will pocket $600,000 (€440,000).