Padraig Harrington's thoughts were with his wife Caroline and their babyrather than Ryder Cup team-mate Darren Clarke, the overnight leader, as hedeparted the NEC world championship in America this afternoon.
During a level par closing round of 70 Harrington received word that his wifehad gone into hospital back home in Dublin to await the birth of their firstchild.
The baby had been due last Monday, but when doctors said it looked like beinga week late Harrington made the decision not to fly back after the United StatesPGA championship, but to continue on from Rochester, New York, to Akron, Ohio.
All week long he was waiting for any developments and he admitted he thoughtabout withdrawing after an opening 73, but thought that would be showing a lackof respect to the tournament sponsors.
"The last couple of days have been tough, I've got to say. I've wanted to gohome. We were hoping it would go a couple of days more and that would makeeverything all right, but it looks like it's not to be. But we can't have everything. As long as I have a healthy baby and a healthy wife at the end of it all I'll be a very happy man."
Clarke, meanwhile, prepared for the final lap of the race for a first prize ofover one million dollars.
Winner of a seven-figure cheque at the Andersen Consulting world match playchampionship in California three years ago, the prospect of another did not seemto be unduly bothering him as he resumed on nine under, one ahead of JonathanKaye and two in front of another American, Chris Riley. Tiger Woods and DavisLove, both four-time winners this year, were three back.
"The worst that can happen is that I don't play well," he said. "I can play the worst I've ever played and it's not going to make any difference."
Nevertheless, the big Ulsterman was keen to end a winless run dating back 14months to the English Open at the Forest of Arden - a period that included himlosing a three-stroke first round lead in the Masters at Augusta in April.
Harrington was paired with fellow Irishman Paul McGinley, who managed only a75 to finish nine over. Harrington was four over.