Harrington clinches Volvo Masters

Harrington climbed to second in the Order of Merit

Padraig Harrington proved he is no longer second best by edging out Paul McGinley to win the Volvo Masters in Spain on Sunday.

Harrington hit a closing round of 66 for a 12-under-par total of 204, one shot ahead of fellow Dubliner McGinley.

Australian Adam Scott finished a stroke further back on 10-under par at a tournament which was reduced from 72 holes to 54 because of windy conditions.

Victory at the Montecastillo course marked a perfect end to a magnificent season for the Irishman, who has finished runner-up seven times this year.

Obviously it's Padraig's day - he doesn't back off and he's been unlucky not to win this season

Paul Ginley

It also means that Harrington leapfrogs Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke into second place on the Order of Merit behind South African Retief Goosen.

He sealed the win at the £3m event by sinking a 25-footer on the 18th hole, pipping overnight leader McGinley, who came in with a closing 70.

McGinley, who partners Harrington in the World Cup in Japan this week, had stretched his lead to three strokes with a birdie at the third but was pulled back by bogeys at the next two holes.

Scott, Clarke and Sweden's Mathias Gronberg also briefly challenged on the final day, but it was Harrington who came out on top.

"What can I say?" said McGinley, who grabbed three bogeys on the front nine.

Clarkes sees his European ranking fall

"Obviously it's Padraig's day. He doesn't back off and he's been unlucky not to win this season.

"I rallied well after a very bad start (three bogeys on his front nine). I let everyone back into the tournament but I regrouped well."

Clarke, the 1998 champion, will also be disappointed with the result, having thrown away his own chance of victory after bogeying the par-five 16th hole.

He had been two ahead of the field with nine to play after a four-birdie 32, but, after his solitary drop on 16, he could only par his last two holes to close with 69.

Clarke's three-way tie for fourth spot on 207, along with the Gronberg and Robert Karlsson, meant he had to surrender his second place on the European money list.

Leading final totals in the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo, Jerez, Spain (Gbr and Irl unless stated):

204 P Harrington 67 71 66
205 P McGinley 66 69 70
206 A Scott (Aus) 67 74 65
207 R Karlsson (Swe) 71 68 68, D Clarke 70 68 69, M Gronberg (Swe) 70 67 70
208 T Johnstone (Zim) 69 72 67, C Montgomerie 71 69 68, B Langer (Ger) 69 70 69
209 R Goosen (Rsa) 68 75 66, D Howell 69 73 67
210 G Turner (Nzl) 72 70 68, D Robertson 69 72 69, G Evans 69 71 70, R Wessels (Rsa) 70 70 70
211 P Lonard (Aus) 65 78 68, P Price 70 73 68, A Cabrera (Arg) 69 73 69, JM Olazabal (Spa) 69 70 72