Masters' focus is wholly Order

Padraig Harrington's late run at the Order of Merit title has ensured a grandstand finish to the European Tour season, which is just as it should be at the Volvo Masters. Harrington's victory at the Dunhill Links Championship last month brought the Irishman in range, but the completely unexpected element came when Retief Goosen started to spice up the verbals in Madrid last week.

Only £34,000 separates the South African and the Irishman at the top of the Order of Merit, but while Goosen is playing in the US Tour Championship this weekend, Harrington decided to give up a planned holiday in Marbella to play in the Italian Open. Goosen called the switch "desperate", and then had a go about Harrington's reputation for slow play.

Goosen usually makes sure he says very little in public but does so in a perfectly polite and charming manner. His attack was somewhat out of character, then. Goosen and Harrington were drawn in successive groups at the Madrid Open for the first two rounds and the South African made it plain he was glad to be in the front group.

"Harrington plays to the limit all the time but if he is not fined it means he must be all right," Goosen said. "In the States, they don't warn you, you just get fined."

"It's a case of the pot calling the kettle black," responded Harrington, "because he is no boy racer. You get a name for slow play and it wouldn't matter if I ran, I'd still get accused. I've changed my routine and haven't been on the clock for months."

It was with inevitable irony then that the following day it should be Goosen who was given a warning for a bad time. (Two bad times means an automatic one-stroke penalty.) Goosen, none too happy, suggested to the tournament director who had informed him of the warning that he might "go and play somewhere else", although he later retracted the threat. The only time Goosen has been fined was for slow play in the States.

Goosen's warning came for taking 20 seconds longer than permitted over a shot that could have cost him a double bogey had he rushed. If it is the number of shots that matters in the end, Goosen, despite not being happy with his form, ended up tieing with Harrington for seventh place in Madrid, altering the Order of Merit not one jot.

It was a chance wasted for Harrington, who led after 54 holes but three-putted three times in a final round of 72, which saw him tumble down the leaderboard. "It was a week that had great potential but finished up really disappointingly," said the Irishman. "My confidence was gone by the end.

"But the Order of Merit is very important. It is only at the end of the season that everyone focuses on it. It's certainly an aspiration to win it. Now I am in the position that I can win it, I've got to give it everything. I would hate to go to Valderrama knowing that he can play badly and still win it."

Valderrama was the original home of the Volvo Masters, whose 66-man field is drawn from the Order of Merit table, but when the venue moved on to staging the Ryder Cup, the event switched to Montecastillo in Jerez six years ago. Harrington won there last year to win his only event of the season – Colin Montgomerie will be looking to do the same this time – and clinch second place on the Order of Merit behind Goosen.

By winning the US Open, the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and the Madrid Open, Goosen was clearly the No 1 in 2001 and had wrapped up the money list title before reaching the final event. This year it is his compatriot Ernie Els who offers the best body of work, having won the Open at Muirfield, as well as the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne and the Dubai Classic. But, sadly, he decided to miss the Volvo Masters to fulfil his sponsors' commitments. Goosen won the Johnnie Walker Classic and finished second to Tiger Woods at the Masters and the AmEx World Championship. Harrington finished in the top 10 in three majors before another consistent season struck gold at St Andrews.

As well as money, the stroke averages are another good indicator of who is playing the best golf. Though not as prestigious as the Order of Merit, it is something the players themselves put great store by. Harrington won narrowly from Goosen last year and the same scenario looks to be unfolding this time.

With the exception of Jesper Parnevik, 11 of the Ryder Cup team will be at Valderrama, including Sergio Garcia, who is looking for a home double after winning the Spanish Open in April. Harrington and Goosen should enjoy the battle to be the No 1. With Garcia promising to play more in Europe next year, the Spaniard should be a strong contender for the 2003 Vardon Trophy.