Padraig Harrington has no intention of abandoning the European Tour in favour of the richer pickings on offer on the US circuit. In fact, as if to underline his commitment to remaining on this side of the Atlantic, the tour's newest multiple winner spent much of yesterday afternoon house hunting in Dublin.
"As I see it, I would be reducing my freedom of movement if I decided to base myself in America," said Harrington, whose win in the Turespana Masters lifted him to number 25 in the latest world rankings. "Those guys who are committing themselves to play on the US Tour have to play 15 tournaments over there and they'd also have to play 11 over here. That's not for me. I would prefer to have the option of playing around the world, wherever I liked."
The 29-year-old Dubliner's actions this year confirm him as a global player. Harrington has played five times in the US this year plus four times in Asia (by the year's end), three times in South America and twice in Australia as well as his playing commitments in Europe . . .
and that is how he intends to keep it. "I would be hindering my schedule flexibility by going to the US Tour. The reality is that I can play as many tournaments there as I feel suits me," he said.
Very much his own man, Harrington doesn't go along with the theory that he was "owed" another win because of his summer disqualification at the Benson and Hedges at the Belfry. "People have been saying that I got my just desserts by winning in Madrid, but I don't see it that way. Winning doesn't change the past. Each is an individual event. However, I'm delighted to win again and it comes at a good time and gives me an opportunity to have a good finish to the season."
Indeed, there appears to be very little in terms of winding down the season. The two big money events in Spain - the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo next week and then the AmEX world championship at Valderrama - come back-to-back and he is also entered for the following week's Johnnie Walker Classic (the first event on the 2001 circuit) in Bangkok and the Australian Open before playing in the World Cup in Argentina next month.
Harrington's win in Madrid - his second of the year following his success in the Brazil Sao Paulo Open in March - made him the tour's seventh multiple winner of the year joining Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods, Michael Campbell, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Gary Orr in having that distinction.
More importantly, however, it moved him up to 25th in the world rankings which equals his best ever listing. "I reached a similar level a couple of months ago, around the British Open, but it was what I'd call a poor 25 because I had a long way to go to get 24th and I also had points to lose. This is a more solid 25th position." In fact, Harrington is now on 4.69 points, just .12 of a point behind 24th placed Carlos Franco.
With an eye on the Anderson Consulting world matchplay in Australia in January (which will be defended by Clarke), world ranking positions, in terms of the first round seeding, are increasingly important. A number of players have intimated that they won't be playing in Melbourne because of the timing so early in the year, but Harrington intends to be there.
And, although these are relatively early days in the Ryder Cup qualification battle, Harrington has also jumped to the top of that particular table. "I'm very happy to be there, on top of the table, but it doesn't really matter because the battle really only heats up next summer. I'd rather be showing form in June, July or August rather than these months . . . but I am really happy to be in such a position at this time," he said.
While Harrington's career is on a high, some of his fellow-countrymen have more pressing matters at this week's Italian Open in Sardinia. Des Smyth's performance in Madrid at least secured his playing rights for next season but Gary Murphy and Eamonn Darcy head to the event - the last tournament for those on the bubble - in need of significant cheques.
Murphy missed the cut in Madrid by one shot and left there in the belief that a return to the Tour school final at the end of November was his only option. There was good news yesterday for Murphy (placed 138th in the moneylist) when a number of late defections allowed him to be drafted into the Italian field. Darcy, who is 144th in the order of merit, also requires another good finish with only the top 115 in the moneylist assured of their cards for next year.
Meanwhile, Denis O'Sullivan's victory in the Tournament of Champions on the European Seniors Tour on Sunday - his first as a professional - lifted him to 13th place on the Order of Merit. A former Irish amateur champion and international selector, O'Sullivan only turned professional upon reaching his 50th birthday two years ago and produced a remarkable sequence of three consecutive birdies at the Buckinhamshire to win by one shot.
"A dream come true," was O'Sullivan's reaction to his maiden success. "All I could think of coming down the closing stretch was to relax and try to do what I did when I won my amateur titles. But this was all a bit different." The Cork man took a top prize of Stg£20,000 which boosted his season's earnings to £57,195 with just one event - this week's Tournament of Championships in Abu Dhabi - remaining.
