'Outsider' Goosen eyes prize

Retief Goosen is within touching distance of becoming the first "outsider" to win Europe's Order of Merit since 1982.

Australian Greg Norman was the last non-European to claim the Harry Vardon Trophy, but the title could well be in the 32-year-old South African's hands this weekend.

Goosen and Darren Clarke, the only player who can now catch him, are both playing in the Telefonica Madrid Open starting today.

But Clarke, runner-up on the money list to Colin Montgomerie in 1998 and Lee Westwood last season, not only has to win this tournament and the Volvo Masters in Jerez in a fortnight, but also needs the US Open champion to fail miserably each time.

"The gap is very substantial and I can't see Retief not playing well," commented the Dungannon man yesterday. "It would be frustrating to finish second for the third time in four years, but I'm just coming up against guys playing better than me." There is also the Italian Open in Sardinia next week, but Clarke has no plans to be there and, trailing by £473,000 as he already does, it might not matter anyway.

"It would be great to win it here," said Goosen. "Looking at all the great names who have won it, it means a lot and would be a great honour." When the two meet, however, conversation tends to go straight to their cars. "He tells me about his Ferraris and I tell him about my Mercedes Benz. I have two, he has eight I think - I'm a little behind!"

Nobody can say Goosen would not deserve the crown. From 21 tournaments Clarke has won only the European Open and has had six other top 10 finishes, while from the same number Goosen has had two victories - including his first major, of course - and eight top 10s.

Keen to wipe out the memory of losing the Lancome Trophy to Sergio Garcia from four ahead with four holes to play last month, Goosen would love to clinch the crown in the grand manner at Club de Campo.

But the main threat may come from another Irishman, Padraig Harrington.

The 30-year-old Dubliner captured his first tour title when the Spanish Open was held on the course in 1996 and he is this week's defending champion, having finished two ahead of Scot Gary Orr at the same venue last year.

That remains Harrington's last victory and he needs no reminding that seven second places have come in between, the latest to Ian Woosnam in the Cisco World Matchplay despite scoring a championship record-equalling 62 in the morning round.

Harrington now believes he knows what went wrong. "It dawned on me last Saturday that I did not eat properly and lost concentration," he said.

"I eat bananas or energy bars every three holes, but because I had lunch between the rounds at Wentworth I didn't do it.

"I have a terrible reputation of relaxing once I get ahead, I'm much better when my back is against the wall."

Harrington is fourth on Europe's money list but is desperate for a first victory of the season. "I've got two tournaments to go and I could be coming up for a very disappointing year," he said, despite banking well over $1 million this year in Europe.

"A win would mean I wouldn't have too much to criticise about the year. Without a win I'll be looking back and saying I have good positives to take away but there will always be the negatives there."

Other Irish competing are David Higgins and Des Smyth.