Overnight leader Padraig Harrington missed out on the chance to leapfrog Retief Goosen in the European Tour Order of Merit after a disappointing one-over-par 72 saw him finish level in joint 7th with the South African in the Telefonica Madrid Open. The Dubliner, trailing Goosen on the money list by just £34,000, began the day one shot clear of eventual winner Steen Tinning from Denmark and Australia's Adam Scott, and despite opening with two birdies, four bogeys sealed his fate.
Tinning claimed the second win of his European Tour career after an amazing final round which saw the lead change 26 times before Tinning captured the £146,507 first prize by one shot from England's Brian Davis, Andrew Coltart from Scotland and Scott. The 30-year-old, who equalled the lowest round on tour with his third-round 62, finished with a 67 for a 19-under-par total of 265.
He was one behind Scott with two to play, but made an 18-foot birdie putt and saw the 22-year-old from Adelaide, bunkered off the tee, leave a four-foot par putt short.
Harrington shot a 72 and, as well as failing to win at Club de Campo for the third time, finished level with Volvo leader Goosen to leave him still £34,000 in arrears in the race to be European number one this season. However, Goosen flies to the United States this week for their Tour Championship while Harrington has another chance to improve his placing in the Italian Open.
Des Smyth carded his third 69 of the week to finish a shot behind Harrington in a share for 10th.
Leading positions in the European tour Volvo Order of Merit after the Telefonica Madrid Open: 1 Retief Goosen (Rsa) £1,466,2662 Padraig Harrington (Ire) £1,432,3413 Ernie Els (Rsa) £1,413,8654 Eduardo Romero (Arg) £1,120,1835 Colin Montgomerie (Sco) £970,1506 Sergio Garcia (Spa) £880,6107 Michael Campbell (Nzl) £832,221
Filed by Shane Murray
