HAVING HAD HIS FedEx Cup involvement ended at a relatively early stage, Pádraig Harrington has added an appearance at next week’s Austrian Open to his schedule.
The Dubliner has spent much of the time since winning his three Majors in 2007 and 2008 working on his golf swing and seemingly encouraged by some improved play in the United States recently, he is anxious to secure a place at the end-of-season Dubai World Championship.
“I have had some reasonable results and have been playing well in America recently so I am looking to continue that trend and get a good result in Austria,” Harrington said.
“I know that I need to improve my position in The Race to Dubai (he is currently 87th), but all it takes is a win or one strong finish and I will get into that top 60. I am also keen to make a start on my 2012 Ryder Cup qualification campaign.”
Though not as glamourous or as high profile as its US v Europe counterpart, the Vivendi Seve Trophy between Continental European and Great Britain & Ireland continued in France on Friday.
Paul McGinley’s team held a 4-1 lead overnight but were pegged right back as the Europeans won three of the matches to bring the scores back to 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 in favour of GB & I.
The Swedish pairing of Alex Noren and Peter Hanson had a 5&3 win over Ian Poulter and Robert Rock, with Ross Fisher and Scott Jamieson beaten by Nicolas Colsaerts and Matteo Manassero.
Thomas Bjorn and Raphael Jacquelin came back from three strokes down to claim a half from their game against Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson, while Darren Clarke and partner David Horsey lost 3&2 to the Spanish duo of Pablo Larrazabal and Miguel Angel Jiménez.