Padraig Harrington is prepared to jeopardise a place in next year's US Masters to be fit for Ireland in the forthcoming World Cup. After completing a final round of 71 for an aggregate of 291 - seven over par - the Dubliner decided to withdraw from this week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan.
"I have pain at the back of my shoulders and I want to be fit for the World Cup," explained Harrington, who helped bring home the trophy in 1997, when he partnered Paul McGinley to success in Kiawah Island. "It's disappointing, but I don't feel I have any choice."
The implications of his decision could be considerable. Having broken through into the top-50 in the world rankings after sharing second place in the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo - he came in at 49th - he is likely to slip backwards by missing this week's event which, curiously, is part of the 2000 European Tour schedule.
But there will be another chance of picking up points when he goes on from the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur to the Casio World Open in Japan. In the meantime, he believes rest is the only cure for a problem which first manifested itself last April when he got a chill in his shoulders. "At a push, I can play with it, but I want to do well in the World Cup," he added.
If Harrington, who finished in a share of 30th place for £21,939 remains in the world's top-50 at the end of this year, he will qualify automatically for a place in the Masters. Given that he slipped back to a final, seventh placing in the European Order of Merit - Clarke was eighth - another route, whereby Augusta may invite the top-six, would be closed to him.
Meanwhile, he and Clarke had contrasting fortunes yesterday. While Harrington limited his errors to three bogeys, Clarke dropped no fewer than eight strokes, five of them in the last seven holes on the way to a crushing 78. It left him sharing 40th place for £19,653.
Harrington handled the conditions more successfully, even when taking 37 - two over par - to the turn. From there, he birdied the 10th and 13th to get back to level for the round and went on to make a fine birdie at the treacherous 17th. Despite a bogey at the last he had to be contented with his day's work.
