Mallorca Classic: Padraig Harrington's worst round of the year dealt a potentially fatal blow to his bid to become European number one at the Mallorca Classic.

Harrington slumped to an opening 77, seven over par, at Pula Golf Club to lie 11 shots off the lead held by fellow Irishman Gary Murphy, Sweden's Niclas Fasth and South African Andrew McLardy.

Murphy lies 118th on the Order of Merit, and yesterday's round has put him in a superb position to retain his full playing privileges for next year.

The top 118 players on the money list on Sunday evening retain their cards

"It's horrible out there," admitted the 34-year-old, who thought he had done enough by finishing third in the Russian Open in August, only to then miss his last four cuts. "

You try not to dwell on your situation but it's not to be confused with enjoyable.

"I probably concentrated a little better today and maybe that's what I've not been doing enough this year."

Harrington trails Paul Casey by just over €200,000 in the Order of Merit with just two tournaments remaining, but added Mallorca to his schedule at the last minute following victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month.

Back-to-back wins would take Harrington top of the money list, but the Ryder Cup stalwart looks more likely to miss the cut and travel to Valderrama next week for the season-ending Volvo Masters in need of a top-three finish to have any chance of overhauling Casey.

"I didn't play very well at all and a change of wind direction from what I had practised in put some doubt in my mind," admitted Harrington, who drove out of bounds on the seventh en route to a triple bogey seven and inward half of 41.

"I made a few bad swings and it knocked me off my stride. I didn't inspire myself with ball striking out there; I'll go out and try tomorrow but I can't say I'm full of confidence."