Golf-Harrington finds plenty to motivate him in FedExCup series

By Larry Fine

PARAMUS, New Jersey, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Padraig Harrington will end a well-deserved break after his PGA Championship victory nine days ago to resume his pursuit of golf's big prizes in this week's Barclays Classic.

The Irishman, who has won three majors after adding the PGA crown to his second successive British Open victory last month, said on Tuesday he would have liked another week off after house-hunting with his family in North Carolina.

However, the PGA Tour's FedExCup playoffs begin at Ridgewood Country Club on Thursday and the stakes are high.

"There's a great chance of winning the title Player of the Year, as in leading the (European) order of merit," said the 36-year-old Harrington. "I think that's number one motivation.

"After that, they are all good tournaments and you want to win those, and obviously I would have one eye on the world rankings, so that would be a definite motivation in it."

Harrington, who ranks third in the world behind number one Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, is among 136 players from 15 countries playing in the opening event of the FedExCup series, where the overall points leader collects a $10 million prize.

Last year, most of the bonus won by FedExCup champion Tiger Woods came as a deferred payment. This year the playoffs winner will pocket $9 million in cash with $1 million deferred.