Darren Clarke has withdrawn from the Belgacom Open, which starts on Thursday, to enhance his prospects of a strong Dunhill Cup performance for Ireland at St Andrews next week. In doing so, he is effectively conceding defeat to Colin Montgomerie in the battle for Order of Merit honours.
Lee Westwood, currently second in the table, between Montgomerie and Clarke, may follow suit. "I haven't decided if I'll play in Belgium," said Westwood yesterday. "It all depends on my fitness."
He explained: "My back feels as good as it has done for a long time - certainly since the PGA in August - and there were no problems with it in Germany. But it could stiffen up overnight. I have to look further into the future than the next month. Hopefully, I'll have another 20 years playing on the tour at the top level and that's the most important thing."
Clarke's concerns are more immediate. "I didn't do myself justice in either the Dunhill Cup or the World Matchplay last year and I don't want that to happen again," he said yesterday. "With Paul (McGinley) and Padraig (Harrington), we have a strong team at St Andrews next week and I want to ensure that we get the best out of it."
He continued: "Quite frankly, I don't think it's possible to catch Monty now. I had my chances over the last four weeks but it's been terribly frustrating, not taking advantage. Instead of worrying about the Order of Merit, my immediate target is to get another tournament win."
On his World Matchplay debut last year, Clarke was beaten 2 and 1 in the first round by Brad Faxon. He then shot rounds of 71, 77 and 68 in a decidedly mixed Dunhill Cup in which Ireland failed to emerge from the group stage.
The Tyroneman has five more tournaments to play between now and the end of the year. After the Dunhill Cup and the World Matchplay, he will be heading for the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo. Then he winds up the season with two tournaments in Japan.
In theory, there is still sufficient money up for grabs for Montgomerie to be caught, but Clarke and Westwood both realise that it is highly unlikely. "To have won twice in the last three weeks has been fantastic, and I'm just delighted that I seem to back in a winning frame," said the big Scot, who is not in the line-up for Belgium.
Meanwhile, Harrington is facing the remainder of the season with renewed confidence after sharing eighth place in the German Masters for a reward of £22,433. "My reward in Cologne was about far more than money," he said yesterday.
Harrington explained: "Before the German Masters, my form was so indifferent that I couldn't wait for the season to end. Now I'm really looking forward to the remainder of the year. In fact I haven't felt better in a long time."
The Dubliner was in Belgium preparing for the Belgacom Open at Royal Zoute where a relatively modest prize fund of £400,000 will carry a top prize of £66,666. "My target now is to make the top-20 in the Order of Merit so as to be exempt for next year's British Open."
But what of the top-15, which carries an exemption in the US Open? "I would need to earn about £110,000 in the last two events to make that happen and I don't think it's on," he replied. "But the top-20 is a realistic target, particularly the way I'm playing."
Harrington would have finished sixth in Germany but for a double-bogey at the last where a brave approach from rough found a watery grave. "At the time, I took it on the chin, but I was really disappointed to have finished with a 72, given how well I played," he said.
As it happened, Harrington was partnering the winner, Montgomerie. And what impressed him most about the Scot was his concentration. "He's very strong mentally, especially when he has his sights set on winning," he said.
Harrington's remaining tournaments this season are the Belgacom Open, Dunhill Cup, Smurfit Irish Professional Championship (at Powerscourt), Volvo Masters, Sarazen World Open and the World Cup at Gulf Harbour, New Zealand, on November 5th to 8th, when he and Paul McGinley will be defending the title they captured at Kiawah Island last year.
"On my return home, I plan to take a month off - a total break from the game," he said. "I reckon I'll be due a rest by that stage."
Ireland will have five challengers in Belgium. Now that Clarke has withdrawn, they are headed by McGinley and Harrington, who will be joined by Philip Walton, Raymond Burns and Des Smyth.