Monty can seal his eighth merit title

European Tour News round-up: The doublespeak from Colin Montgomerie would have you believe that he isn't really too concerned about topping the PGA European Tour money list again. Which, of course, is why he has two dates in Spain over the next three weeks: at this week's Madrid Open and, in a fortnight's time, at the season-ending Volvo Masters in Valderrama.

All going according to plan, the Scot's appearances in each of these tournaments should see him seal another Order of Merit title, something he isn't too bothered in winning. Yeah, right!!

Monty's competitive instincts are so strong that he'd hate to lose a game of tiddlywinks. So, the smokescreen that has been thrown up indicating that the Order of Merit title - after all he already has seven of them - is simply a by the way should really be taken with a pinch of salt. Make no mistake about it, he'd love to finish the year as Europe's number one and, now, he should.

In following up his Dunhill Links win with a third-placed finish in the American Express championship in San Francisco last weekend, Montgomerie - even at this early stage - looks set to become the first name pencilled into captain Ian Woosnam's team sheet for the Ryder Cup at The K Club next year. He tops both the world points table and the European points list, and has accumulated over one million points (each euro equates to a point) in the latter qualifying criteria where it is anticipated 1.5 million will secure a place on the team.

"I had a goal (at the start of the American Express), to try and overtake Michael Campbell and also get some more Ryder Cup points," remarked Montgomerie, who achieved both aims. Rather than resting on his laurels, though, Montgomerie has decided to return across the Atlantic to play in this week's Madrid Open where he has an opportunity to open up a financial gap on Campbell in that race for the money title.

He added: "The advantage I have is I don't think Michael is playing the next two weeks . . . I (also) feel like I've got somehow a little bit of advantage at Valderrama. I know the place very well, and I'm playing well. It's just a matter of keeping going."

Montgomerie's renaissance this season, in spite of the fallout from the incorrect drop he took in Indonesia earlier in the campaign that led to a reprimand from his peers on the Tournament Committee (he subsequently donated the prize-money he won in that tournament to the Asian tsunami fund but did keep his world ranking points), has seen him return to the European number one on the Order of Merit for the first time since he won his seventh money title in 1999. And, with only three counting events remaining, Monty must be viewed as odds-on to capture an eighth title as he is over €130,000 clear of the Kiwi.

For Paul McGinley, that flirtation with contending for the Order of Merit - which was a realistic one after his runner-up finish in the world matchplay - is gone after failing to make inroads in the Dunhill Links or the AmEx. The Dubliner has a corporate day for Allianz in Adare Manor tomorrow but won't be playing again until the Volvo Masters, so he has accepted that his quest to be Europe's number one this year is over.

Still, he is currently sixth in the Order of Merit and very much on course for a career-best finish in the money list. McGinley's previous best position was eighth in 2001.

McGinley has a two-week break from competition but there will be a quintet of Irish players competing in the Madrid Open, led by Darren Clarke who understandably bypassed the AmEx and this week's Michelin Championship in Las Vegas in order to be with his wife Heather, who is battling cancer. Clarke is joined in Madrid by Damien McGrane, who is tantalisingly close to a place in the limited 60-player field in the Volvo Masters.

McGrane, who has never yet qualified for the season's finale, is in 61st place in the money list with only the top-60 earning invites. So, he has an additional incentive this week while Gary Murphy, in 79th position, has considerably more work to do if he is to make it to Valderrama. Stephen Browne and Philip Walton are also in the field in Spain.

Padraig Harrington will hope to leave his AmEx form behind him in San Francisco when he plays in this week's Michelin Championship in Las Vegas and will fulfil his tour card commitments to the PGA Tour by playing in next month's Tour Championship in Atlanta (his 15th event).

Irish positions on European Tour Order of Merit: 6th, P McGinley a1,629,762; 22nd, D Clarke a899,030; 33rd, P Harrington a599,515; 34th, G McDowell a545,089; 50th, P Lawrie a419,455; 61st, D McGrane a372,281; 79th, G Murphy a268,517; 185th, D Higgins a45,164; 195th, S Browne a37,604; 205th, M Hoey a25,042; 278th, P Walton a7,453.