Harrington row overshadows win

Padraig Harrington holed the winning putt for the British and Ireland team at the Seve Trophy in Valencia yesterday but became involved in a furious row with Jose Maria Olazabal.

Harrington felt the disagreement, over Olazabal repairing pitch marks at the third hole, had completely overshadowed the 15-13 victory, saying: "It's not worth losing a friend over, a point or half-a-point or anything, it's not worth it."

Olazabal had been one up coming to the 18th, but Harrington hit a wonderful wedge approach to three feet. He nervelessly holed the putt.

Olazabal could only par and the half was enough to allow Britain and Ireland to retain the Seve Trophy.

The disagreement had come earlier in their crucial match. With the match level on the third green, Olazabal began to repair three blemishes on his line, claiming they were pitch marks.

Harrington passed by, saying "you're repairing a lot there" and all hell broke loose. Harrington called over the referee, but before he got there Olazabal conceded the hole and stormed off to the fourth tee.

After the halved match the two entered into a heated conversation near the 18th green. Olazabal was heard to say loudly: "You questioned my reputation."

Harrington denied this and attempted to explain his side of the argument.

"We've had a disagreement of opinions," he said. "It's unfortunate and certainly not the way I would have wanted to have got a half point or anything like it.

"He hit it to about eight feet on the third hole and there were two marks in front of his ball which, as I walked by, he said, 'pitch marks'.

"I fully believe he thought they were pitch marks, obviously I thought there was doubt. I would have let the referee decide it. Maybe he (Olazabal) was clear and I was 50-50, but he was 100 per cent."

The pair argued for more than 10 minutes at the 18th over what had occurred and even had to be asked to quieten down so the match of Ian Poulter and Niclas Fasth could finish.

A clearly furious Olazabal said: "I've made it clear I don't want to spend any time talking about it.

"We had an incident on the third green, we talked about, we had different opinions about the situation. I took the decision that I thought was the right one and I don't want to spend any more time talking about it."

The two, who had been engaged in friendly conversation up until the third, played the remaining 15 holes in total silence. Olazabal in particular had a face like thunder.

Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie, the Ryder Cup hero at the Belfry last year, set the Europeans on course for victory with a 5 and 4 hammering of Seve Ballesteros.

Thomas Bjorn withdrew with a neck injury and a crucial point was forfeited to Britain and Ireland. A Justin Rose 3 and 2 defeat of Raphael Jacquelin and Harrington's half sealed the result.

"I was walking over to call the referee, that's all there was to it," Harrington concluded. "The fact that I was then not happy about it, 'Olly' wasn't happy, so he conceded the hole. I had said forget about it.

"I didn't say call the hole a half, but I certainly said forget about it at the time. I think you should get his opinion about it. It's just opinion, that's all it is."