There was no Turkish delight for a tired-sounding Padraig Harrington after he failed to qualify for this week’s final event in the 2013 Race to Dubai.
Needing to finish top-10 Harrington shared 50th place with an eight under par tally at the close of the Turkish Airlines Open.
Quietly-spoken French golfer Victor Dubuisson brought the loudest cheers when he birdied the closing two holes to win by two shots with a last day 69 and a 24-under par victory tally.
No Turkish delight for Padraig Harrington and heading home after missing out on the Race to Dubal top-60, (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Last year’s Irish Open winner, Jamie Donaldson grabbed second place with a score of 63 for a 22-under par tally and also earned himself one million air miles with Turkish Airlines for an ace at the 16th.
England’s Justin Rose boosted hopes of finishing next week at European No.1 and overtook an absent Graeme McDowell to move into second place in the Race to Dubai after posting a 64 to share third place on 20-under par with Woods who birdied four of his closing five holes in a five under par 67.
Race to Dubai front-runner Henrik Stenson (69) shared seventh place and with the Swede seeing his money list cut from Euro 343,866 to Euro 213,468 while the leading four contenders for the European No. 1 title are now separated by Euro 343,906 and with this week’s event carrying a first prize of Euro 1.14m.
Harrington, who ended his year 68th on the money list with Euro 464,326 won’t play again to next January’s Volvo Champions event in Durban.
“I’m now looking forward to a break,” he declared
“But then there’s two parts to that, you obviously like to play competitive golf to test where your game is at so I will miss that side of it.
“I played pretty nicely in practice as it is, so not really …… but a break won’t do me any harm, that’s for sure.
“I’ll have certainly more of a rest, getting your mind sharp, that kind of thing. I am probably going to take seven weeks. I’m going to play the Volvo Championship and then take a few more weeks after that.
“I’m also struggling with numbers next year, really badly struggling with numbers to try and find 13 events in Europe is tough for me. I don’t know what I am going to do yet. I have to look at the schedule but I am struggling to get my numbers up for sure.”
But while Harrington will be putting his feet up Shane Lowry is targeting a top-30 money list finish to his fourth full season on Tour after posting a last round 67 for a share of 44th spot at nine under par.
“I am happy with the way the weekend went as my main goal was to get myself comfortably into next week, and I’ve just hit the ball beautifully the last two days and putted nicely, as well,” said the 35th Race to Dubai ranked Lowry.
“A five under par weekend is always good even though it didn’t move me that much up the board but then it is the confidence more than anything else.
“I feel also I showed a bit of character after what transpired on Thursday as I could have easily just potted around here but as I said, all I wanted to a bit of confidence and I’ve attained that.
“So all of a sudden from being down heading into Friday I am looking forward to next week.”
And Damien McGrane’s season ended with a 75 for a tied for 70th on two over par.
