Padraig riding high as McDowell takes bath

Padraig Harrington gave Europe's team a perfect send-off by winning the German Masters in Cologne.

The Irishman, so often a runner-up, became the third successive member of Bernhard Langer's Ryder Cup side to taste victory after tour wins in the past fortnight by Miguel Angel Jimenez and Luke Donald.

Harrington had laser eye treatment 10 days ago and was worried about a pain in his shoulder after practising for four hours on Friday.

He then started the final round with two bogeys to trail Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell by six shots. But McDowell twice found water and in the end shot 77 to Harrington's 70.

Paul Casey, joint sixth, was next best of the eight Ryder Cup players in the field. He was joint second until running up a quadruplebogey eight on the 71st hole.

VIJAY SINGH confirmed his status as world No1 by taking the Canadian Open at the third extra hole in a play-off win against Mike Weir.

In the event's centenary staging, Weir missed out on becoming the first home winner for 50 years.