PADRAIG HARRINGTON has lost out to Danish golfer Thomas Bjorn in the contest for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. Bjorn became the first Danish golfer to win on the European Tour when he captured the Loch Lomond World Invitational in September. The Dane's win will be a disappointment for Harrington, who was Bjorn's main rival for the award. The Stackstown golfer won the Spanish Open in a superb season.

Bjorn finished 10th on the Order of Merit, the highest placing by a Tour debutant since Jose Maria Olazabal was second to Seve Ballesteros in his first season in 1986. He also enters 1997 second to Colin Montgomerie on the Ryder Cup qualifying points-table.