Harrington ready to make late Ryder run

Padraig Harrington admitted yesterday he would be "gutted absolutely" and "devastated" if he was not part of Europe's team at the Ryder Cup in October.

With only five weeks left in the points race the three-time major champion admits he is in a "very perilous" position down at 17th place when only nine players qualify automatically. Yet things are so tight that if Harrington wins this week's Irish Open at Killarney he could move all the way up to sixth.

Harrington's last victory was the US PGA two years ago, but he was at pains yesterday to point out that in the past 12 months he has had no fewer than 14 top-10 finishes. "I was asked the other day if I got selected would I actually pull out," he said. "The inference was 'would you pull out because you're not playing well?'

"I've had more top 10s in the last year than I've ever had in my career, so going on a guideline that most people use I've actually had the best year of my career.

"I haven't won but my form has actually been solid enough."