Pádraig Harrington yesterday became the latest victim of arguably the most devious golf hole. There are those who call the 17th at Valderrama el hoyo del terror, such are the punishments this infamous hole - a Spanish inquisition, if you will - can inflict.

This 536-yard par five, reconstructed at a cost of €1 million by Seve Ballesteros almost a decade ago, has shown its devilish intent on many occasions.

In all his visits here, though, Harrington had remained immune. Until yesterday. The Dubliner, coasting along very nicely, ran up a quadruple bogey nine that ruined his chances of sneaking up on those ahead of him in the Volvo Masters. He eventually signed for a 74, to be on four-over-par 146.

Harrington has had some high numbers in his career - including a 13 at the 18th in the second round of the International at The Oxfordshire in 1996 - but this one rankled.

"That's typical of what's happening to me. I don't seem to be showing the golf course, any shot, any respect whatsoever. I normally show it more respect than I did today," he said.

It went something like this. His drive found a left-side fairway bunker. Choosing to lay up with an eight-iron, he pulled it into the stream that works its way up towards the lake that fronts the saucer-shaped green.

In such cases, you accept your punishment and get on with it. Which is what Harrington did, dropping for a penalty and taking out a sandwedge for his fourth shot. "I was trying not to hit it past the flag. Very clever! I succeeded too," he said of his next, which landed on the front of the green and spun back into the water.

His next shot - his sixth - airmailed the green, and a pitch and two putts later he was signing for a quadruple bogey nine.

Unfortunately for Harrington, he had worked his way on to the fringes of contention and was one-under for his round until the 17th bit him.

A year ago, Darren Clarke took an 11 on the hole at the same juncture of the tournament. Yesterday, though, was an even more soul-destroying one for the Ulsterman. Clarke finished with three bogeys for a 75 for 151, but then withdrew from the tournament to fly home to his ill wife, Heather, who underwent a medical procedure in hospital yesterday. She is involved in a long battle with cancer.

"Valderrama is not the course to be playing when your mind is elsewhere," said Clarke.

"I didn't want to pull out of this flagship event before it started, even though I knew I was going to struggle. I have tried over every shot, but unless your mind is totally on what you are doing here, the results can be professionally soul-destroying. I have decided that I am better off at home."