Padraig Harrington is now among the five biggest earners in European Tour history but he has never won the Order of Merit - and unless he finishes first, second or third at the Volvo Masters on Sunday it is not going to happen this year.
The 35-year-old Dubliner, winner of more than £10.5million on the circuit since he turned professional 11 years ago, will tee off at Valderrama tomorrow alongside Paul Casey, the Ryder Cup team-mate he trails by £146,163.
Four years ago the money list race focused on Harrington and Retief Goosen come the final week of the season.
Harrington was only £17,000 behind then, but on the very first hole he incurred a two-stroke penalty for repairing a pitch mark which he then realised was not quite on the putting surface.
It was a self-inflicted blow from which he never recovered.
He ended up 36th to Goosen's 34th and so the Dubliner finished runner-up - just as he had to the same player the previous season.
'It would be a big deal to me to win the Order of Merit,' said Harrington.
'It's certainly something you want on your CV. It's directly behind the majors. At the end of the day you can win whatever tournaments you like, but you're going to be judged on how many wins you have and then how many majors and after that on the Order of Merit and maybe your world ranking.'
