Harrington gets in

Padraig Harrington, who has opted to spend a few days working with his coach Bob Torrance in Scotland rather than play in this week's Dubai Desert Classic, is able to pencil another American date into his schedule in the run-up to next month's US Masters.

The Dubliner has received an invitation to play in the Bay Hill Invitational on March 16th-19th, but it could prove to be his last tournament outing in advance of his debut appearance at Augusta, three weeks later.

As things stand, Harrington is not in the field for the following week's TPC, and the only way he can earn a late entry into an event commonly perceived as the "fifth major" is to produce a sufficiently good performance at Bay Hill that would push him back into the world's top 50. Harrington has slipped to 59th in the current rankings (having started the year in 50th place).

"Ideally, it would be great to play in the TPC - and it is up to me to make the most of the invite to play in Bay Hill. That's the only way I can make it," admitted Harrington.