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Padraig Harrington's last chance at Merit title

It is not about the money for Padraig Harrington but it is about the money title.

Among the five biggest earners in European Tour history, Harrington has never won the Order of Merit - and unless he finishes first, second or third at the Volvo Masters on Sunday it is not going to happen this year.

The 35-year-old Dubliner, winner of more than $19.7 million on the circuit since he turned professional 11 years ago, will tee off at Valderrama on Thursday alongside Paul Casey, the Ryder Cup teammate he trails by $274,441 in the race to win the Order of Merit.

Harrington will be trying to get off to a better start than he did the last time he was in this position.

Four years ago the money list race focused on Harrington and Retief Goosen in the final week of the season. Harrington was only $31,900 behind then, but on the very first hole he incurred a two-stroke penalty for repairing a pitch mark which he then realized was not quite on the putting surface.

It was a self-inflicted blow from which he never recovered. He ended up 36th to Goosen's 34th and finished runner-up - just as he had to the same player the previous season.

Those two second places were followed by two thirds, behind Ernie Els and Darren Clarke and then behind Els and Goosen.

But considering he fell back to 32nd last season, earning less than quarter of Colin Montgomerie's total, just to get back into contention for an honor he rates so highly gives Harrington plenty to smile about win or lose this week.

"It would be a big deal to me to win the Order of Merit," Harrington said. "Certainly I've been using it as motivation after the Ryder Cup to get focused and to get out on the course and push on.

"It's certainly something you want on your CV. It's directly behind the majors. At the end of the day you can win whatever tournaments you like, but you're going to be judged on how many wins you have and then how many majors and after that on the Order of Merit and maybe your world ranking."

One thing is for certain. The Vardon Trophy will have to have a new name inscribed on it.

Four players are left in the hunt with 72 holes to go, Casey and Harrington being followed by longtime leader David Howell and Robert Karlsson.

They each need a top-two finish just to have a chance of ousting Casey, who went into the lead when he captured the title at the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth last month.

Given the fact that none of the quartet has anything better than a top-five finish from all the trips they have made to the Costa del Sol course, Casey's advantage looks safe.

Harrington still has his fate in his own hands - if he wins on Sunday he will be crowned number one. If he is second, Casey would have to finish third to stay top, but should Harrington be third Casey needs only to finish in the top 35.

If Howell or Karlsson win, Casey would need a runner-up finish.