Mentally drained after the Ryder Cup just three weeks ago, Padraig Harrington's win in the Dunhill Links has done wonders to recharge the batteries.

So, instead of a planned two-week sabbatical from life on tour, the 35-year-old Dubliner heads to the Mallorca Classic, the penultimate event on the 2006 PGA European Tour, after just a one-week break from tour life with an added spring in his step and a clearer mind.

His focus? The Order of Merit title, something which he has always had among his list of pre-season targets. Although the primary objective in his career is to win at least one major, Harrington only has to look to Colin Montgomerie to realise that you don't always get what you want and that secondary objectives can be noteworthy in themselves.

Monty has won the European Tour money list on eight occasions, seven times in succession, but was always thwarted when it came to winning a major title.

Harrington, like Montgomerie, had a great opportunity to win a major in the US Open at Winged Foot this season - the Scot finishing in tied second, Harrington a shot further back in third - but it is the Irishman who has the better chance of landing the Harry Vardon trophy, awarded annually to the leading player in the Order of Merit.

Harrington only added the Mallorca Classic to his schedule after last week's success in the Dunhill Links. However, if he were to win in Spain, where there is a top prize of €291,660, then Harrington would actually jump over Paul Casey to top the money list heading into next week's season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, where there will be a €660,000 pot of gold on offer to the winner of the limited-field championship finale.

Casey, whose victory in last month's HSBC World Matchplay enabled him to leapfrog long-time Order of Merit leader David Howell, has decided to remain on at his Arizona home, content with some sunbathing and a little practice rather than adding the Mallorca tournament to his itinerary. The Englishman has a lead of €218,185 over Harrington in the money race.

Howell, who is third in the money list, won't be playing in Mallorca either. Troubled by a shoulder injury in recent weeks, Howell feels it would be far more beneficial to get extra treatment on the injury ahead of Valderrama rather than risk adding on another tournament. However, Sweden's Robert Karlsson, fourth in the Order of Merit, is included in the field.

In all, there will be five European Ryder Cup players in action. Sergio Garcia, who won the event two years ago, and Jose Maria Olazabal, who claimed the title last year, are also playing, as is Paul McGinley, who has been assured he is definitely in the field for the Volvo Masters as defending champion. There had been suggestions that only the top 60 on the money list after Mallorca would be entitled to play.

However, the PGA European Tour has clarified the position and, as defending champion, McGinley would get into Valderrama, even if he fails to break into the elite 60. McGinley is ranked 65th on the money list.

For Harrington, though, adding the Mallorca tournament on to his schedule was something of a no-brainer.

Given he has twice finished second on the money list in the past, in 2001 and 2002 when pipped by Retief Goosen on each occasion, his late-season charge could yet make 2006 memorable apart from Europe's win in the Ryder Cup.

"The Order of Merit is definitely behind the majors (in my list of priorities," said Harrington. "I've always seen winning a world golf championship as the next stepping stone for me in my career, and I've progressed nicely all the way up so far. But I don't have any world events and I don't have any majors. At the end of your career, you're going to be judged by what you have won. What tournaments. But, more, you'll be judged on how many majors you have. After that, you're going to be judged on whether you led the Order of Merit and that is definitely something that I want to do. That's hopefully in 20 years when I am looking back on my own career!"

Harrington's seriousness about attempting to claim the Order of Merit has resulted in him adding on the Mallorca Classic to an already intensive late-season schedule that will see him remain in Spain to play Valderrama and, after a week at home to perhaps savour topping the money list, then undertaking a a globetrotting itinerary that will see him play in China, Japan, South Africa, Barbados and California.

The Barbados trip will be to represent Ireland for an 11th consecutive year in the World Cup of Golf, where he will again partner McGinley. The pair have been annual partners in the event since their triumph in Kiawah Island in 1997. It will be McGinley's 10th successive appearance in the World Cup.

Incidentally, Tiger Woods has decided not to play in the event, while Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, David Toms and Chad Campbell have also bypassed a chance to play. The American team will consist of JJ Henry and Stewart Cink. Luke Donald and Howell, depending on his fitness, have been pencilled in to represent England, while Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd will defend for Wales.

Order of Merit

1 Paul Casey (Eng) €2,409,242

2 Padraig Harrington (Irl) €2,191,057

3 David Howell (Eng) €2,166,366

4 Robert Karlsson (Swe) €1,964,043

5 Ernie Els (Rsa) €1,716,208

6 Henrik Stenson (Swe) €1,641,237

7 Ian Poulter (Eng) €1,520,952

8 Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 1,496,648

9 Johan Edfors (Swe) €1,460,740

10 Retief Goosen (Rsa) €1,367,399