Harrington at ease with task

As a fully qualified accountant, Padraig Harrington tends to have all the numbers in the right boxes. So, while his heart tells him his place on Europe's Ryder Cup team for next month's match at The K Club is safe, his head tells him that it is still possible for him to let an automatic place slip from his grasp should things go horribly wrong at this week's final counting event, the BMW International Open at the Nord-Eichrenried course outside Munich.

"Mathematically it can go wrong for me this week, but it is a long shot," said Harrington, adding: "I am happy that, if I was a betting man, it would be a very, very, very long shot for me not to make the team . . . I've been saying since the French Open (where he finished second) that I've felt I was safe."

Indeed, Harrington's demeanour on the range here yesterday was one of a player at ease with the task that lies ahead, firstly of securing his place on Ian Woosnam's team but also of attempting to end a winless drought that stretches back to June of last year. And, yet, while this is a prestige tournament in its own right, the stark fact is that the Ryder Cup qualifying finale casts a giant shadow over all of the proceedings, with a number of players still in a position to be overhauled as the race enters its final leg.

As such, Harrington is extremely surprised that Jose Maria Olazabal is not among those teeing off in tomorrow's first round. Olazabal currently occupies fifth place in the world points list but is only 0.27 points ahead of Colin Montgomerie.

With the Spaniard absent, all Monty needs to do is to finish no worse than tied-47th to earn the half-point necessary to overhaul Olazabal, while the latter's position is further complicated by the fact a win for Paul Casey would also allow the Englishman to overtake him.

So, what does Harrington make of Olazabal's absence? "I'd be here (if in the same position), that's all I would say. I mean, all he has to do is turn up and beat Monty this week to be guaranteed his place. But he has definitely done myself and Paul no harm at all (by not being here)," said Harrington, who is ahead of the Spaniard on the European points list.

The first five players come off the world points list, the next five off the European points list. Woosnam completes the team by nominating two "wild card" picks on Sunday evening, at the conclusion of the tournament.

For Harrington to miss out on automatic selection would require a series of unlikely scenarios. It would require either Paul Broadhurst or Johan Edfors to win, and Paul McGinley to finish better than sixth with Harrington missing the cut. And, it would also require Montgomerie to finish outside the top 47.

"It is up to me; I can control everything myself. It's fine and I'm happy enough with that," said Harrington. But he has also kept an eye out for McGinley, who has played with him in the past two winning Ryder Cups.

"I'd be very happy for Paul to finish better than sixth this week. I am not worried about my position with him. I hope he has a good week and I will take my chances. But I know things can happen here on this course. I finished second before to earn my place on the team (in 1999). I think what is making Paul's position a lot safer is Olazabal not being here."

Still, Harrington threw out a note of caution to McGinley, who decided to have a day's practice at Queenwood yesterday after breaking his trip back to Europe from Akron. "It is probably not the ideal sort of course for Paul. It is a long hitter's course and then about wedges and putts. You've got to be holing putts."

Certainly, there is a consensus among his peers that it would be good for Europe if McGinley, despite his lacklustre form, made the team.

"I really didn't know Paul very well until the Ryder Cup (in 2004)," said England's Luke Donald. "I knew a bit about his game, how solid he is. But I found him to be an inspirational sort of person to me, the way he helped me at the Ryder Cup and tried to make me feel comfortable. He is a great guy, very unassuming, very gracious. Having him on the team means a lot to our chances."

Meanwhile, for Harrington, it is about seeking to claim an overdue win as much as anything this week in Munich.

"I can concentrate on the tournament. I am not in too precarious a position that I am thinking about the Ryder Cup. I think if I was in Paul's position I would be thinking a lot about it, without a doubt. But I still think Paul is safe as long as Monty finishes in whatever he needs. Paul will have one eye on it, which is only natural."

Harrington's last win anywhere on tour came in the Barclays Classic some 14 months ago. Is he surprised not to have won?

"No, not really. I've been swinging the club well all year. That doesn't always lead to me playing as well as I can.

"You know, I played a lot worse last year and I won twice in the States. It's a strange game. I'm happy enough that I feel good about my game and I can turn it into a winning season yet.

"It was disappointing not to do well in the next two majors (the British Open and the US PGA, where he missed the cuts) after the US open. I had high expectations but there you go. I'll have to settle for trying to win something else."

This week would be the perfect time to return to winning ways.