Rose edges ahead in race for title

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With the European Order of Merit title up for grabs Rose now leads the field and has a four-shot advantage over the Open champion after firing a brilliant best-of-the-day 68 in the second round of the season-ending Volvo Masters.

When they set off together in the final group at the start of the tournament Harrington was the one with the edge, leading Rose by the tiny but important matter of £461 in their money list battle.

It meant the 27-year-old Englishman not only had to finish at worst third in the event - that is what it takes for him and Harrington to go above table-topping Ernie Els, but also had to be ahead of the Irishman.

There is still a long way to go but, after a second successive 71 lifted him from fifth to second spot, Harrington said he suspected Rose has a burning desire to take the title this weekend.

"He's had a great year, but I think he's very hungry for a win," commented the Dubliner, himself a stroke ahead of third-placed quartet Graeme McDowell, Soren Kjeldsen, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jyoti Randhawa.

"Players are very much motivated by that. If he hasn't had a win he wants it all the more. That's our hunger."

While adding that a four-shot gap is "substantial", Harrington also has the experience to know there is a long, long way to go and added: "I really want to win the Order of Merit."

He will also feed off the fact that a year ago he was four behind and tied for 13th with only one round to go, bogeyed the first two holes to drop to 20th and then came charging back into the joint second place he required to pip Paul Casey for the number one spot.