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Harrington and Karlsson set for Order of Merit showdown

Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Michael Weston
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I'm behind you: Harrington has Karlsson in his sights

The European Tour’s Order of Merit concludes on Sunday evening at Valderrama, when the Volvo Masters brings the curtain down on a campaign that will surely see either Robert Karlsson or Padraig Harrington triumph.

With one event to go Karlsson is odds-on to claim the Tour’s last ever Order or Merit before the inaugural Race to Dubai takes over as the season-long competition.

The Swede would become the nation’s first Order of Merit winner, courtesy of a season that has encompassed 12 top-10 finishes.

With back-to-back wins at the Mercedes-Benz Championship and Dunhill Links Championship, the big Swede has not only shot to the top of the Money List, but also established himself as the World No.6.

All this has led to the 39-year-old stealing some of the limelight from Ryder Cup team-mate Harrington, who has enjoyed a double-Major triumph this year.

The Irishman retained his Open title at Royal Birkdale before lifting the Wanamaker trophy at the USAPGA Championship -and at that point top spot in the Money List looked a certainty.

But finishing outside the top-10 at the Dunhill Links Championship, combined with a period of rest, has seen Harrington’s rival take control.

Meanwhile, England’s Lee Westwood and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez both have outside chances of topping the Money List, although they’ll need Karlsson and Harrington to finish well out of contention.