Oct10 Harrington mission to Portugal

Published:

Open Champion Padraig Harrington is considering playing in the Portugal Masters – having flown overnight from Bermuda.

Harrington is playing in the Grand Slam of Golf in the Caribbean next week, but is prepared to jump in a plane for the overnight trek so he can play in Portugal and stand a change of keeping his European Order of Merit title.

As the only one of the top five players on the European Order of Merit already entered for the Portugal event, Justin Rose has  an opportunity to wrap up the Vardon Trophy in Vilamoura – two weeks before he and Harrington go head-to-head in the season-ending Volvo Masters in Valderrama.

“I’m going to play the Grand Slam next week, so it’s unlikely that I would be in Portugal,” said Harrington. “Yet my manager is sitting there and he’s often got the phone call on Friday or Saturday night after I’ve missed the cut asking if he can get me into the event next week.

“So I have changed my mind at late dates but I think this one would be exceptional. It would involve ringing up and looking for special dispensation, a late tee time on Thursday and things like that.

“I’ve ruled it out but you never can tell with me,” Harrington added. “I’ve changed my mind in the past.”  

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