Harrington Back to Business in Shanghai

Padraig Harrington has only had the briefest period to enjoy his European Tour Order of Merit success before getting back to business at the HSBC Champions tournament at Sheshan International Golf Club in China.
Just 11 days after becoming European Number One, the Irishman is back in action for the first event of The 2007 European Tour International Schedule.
“Obviously I won a week ago and I got a week's enjoyment,” said Harrington. “I suppose at the end of this week, it's possible we'll have a new European Number One. So it's interesting that it only lasts for such a short period. It's like a tournament win; it only lasts for a week.
“There's only one person who prefers more time, the guy who has won the Order of Merit. Everybody else is raring to get going for next year.”

Harrington still has five events left this year and is looking to continue his progression into 2007, with a Major the next step on the career ladder.
“I think throughout my career, ten years now, I've won every great tournament, all the way up to a world event and a Major. The Order of Merit probably sits in there just behind a Major win in terms of something you would want to achieve in your career. The natural progression would be a World Golf Championship event or Major next.”

First Harrington will be looking to get the better of a world-class field that includes ten of the top 20 players in the world, led by the top two in Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk.
For Furyk it is his first visit to China, coming just a few days after finishing second in the Tour Championship on the US PGA Tour and winning the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted score average.

“In the last month prior to the Tour Championship, I only played one week,” said Furyk. “So I was a little rusty going in, but I got better as the week went on and played well on the weekend to finish in second place.

“I've had a very good year and playing well and hopefully I can continue that this week.”
Woods will tee off in the company of Casey and Asian Tour Number One Jeev Milkha Singh of India, who won the biggest title of his career when he captured the Volvo Masters.“I'm obviously really excited to be paired with Tiger,” said Singh. “It's going to be the first time with me that I'm going to be playing with him, and hopefully I'm going to learn something from him and I want to see how he manages the golf course.”