Book assists Irishman in new tale of success

Golf: Harrington’s Portugal win as Lawrie leads Scots effort

Reading a self-improvement book helped Ireland’s Padraig Harrington clinch his first victory on European soil in eight years as he won the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura yesterday.

Harrington collected his 30th success worldwide in posting a final-round 65 to deny defending champion Andy Sullivan, of England, by a shot with a 23-underpar tally of 261 on the Oceanico Victoria course.

But it was not all plain sailing for Harrington as he sprayed his second shot down the last into a greenside grandstand.

Harrington’s ball left a clear mark in cannoning off an advertising board fronting the stand before landing in rough from where he chipped to three feet past the flag and ultimately holed the winning putt.

It is Harrington’s first win on European soil since he captured the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdaleanda first “regular” European Tour triumph since he landed the 2007 Irish Open at Adare Manor.

Harrington put his vic- tory down to reading The Pressure Principle by performance psychologist Dave Alred, who has worked with football clubs Manchester City, Sunderland and Watford along with the England rugby union team, the British Lions and leading golfers.

Harrington said: “I’ve been winning elsewhere but it is nice to win in Europe. I’ve been reading The Pressure Principle and it gave mea few pointers that maybe I’d been missing out on and I stuck to those all week. It was a big plus.”

Harrington’s fellow Open champion Paul Lawrie, from Aberdeen, led home the Scots contingent, grabbing seven birdies in a four-under 67 to share fifth place on 20-under 264. Lawrie ends his year 121st in the Race to Dubai.

Marc Warren (69) and Stephen Gallacher ( 68) were three shots back on 17-under 267, but Warren’s effort saw him fall six places shy of breaking into the top 60 in the Race to Dubai.

Gallacher picked up six spots to end his 20th year on tour at 123th on the money list and 12 spots short of the 111 thranked cut-off mark.

The Bathgate professional, like Lawrie, is more than likely to be exempt for the 2017 season via his top-40 standing on the all-time European money list.

Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay (70) shared 31st spot on 13-under but ends his season at 68th on the money list to join both Warren and Gallacher in also missing out on the final series.

David Drysdale, with a last-day 70 on 11-under par, closed out his 15th season on the tour 91st in the Race to Dubai, the eighth year in a succession the Borders player has held his card.

Scott Jamieson breathed a huge sigh of relief despite ending with a 70 for a share of 50th placeon10 under to end his season 108th on the money list and retain playing rights by just £4,817.