No Irish golfer in recent years has generated as much sympathy and admiration as Padraig Harrington. After a remarkable run of seven second places in 2001, deliverance finally arrived in the last European Tour event of the season when the 30-year-old Dubliner captured the prestigious Volvo Masters title at Montecastillo in Spain.

Harrington's victory, which was the fourth of his career on the European Tour, was worth £333,000 sterling but the psychological value of the victory was worth almost more after the heartbreak of filling the runner-up position on so many occasions.

A key member of next year's European Ryder Cup team, Harrington finished second in the European Order of Merit and also finished the year in 11th place in the world rankings.