Mallorca Classic: Padraig Harrington failed to close the gap on Paul Casey at the top of the Order of Merit after crashing out of the Mallorca Classic yesterday, but Gary Murphy shot a 71 to keep a share of the lead and virtually assure his playing privileges for next year.

Harrington added a second-round 74 to his opening 77 for an 11-over-par total of 151 at Pula Golf Club, missing the cut by three shots.

The 35-year-old trails Casey by just over €200,000 in the money list and 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 have taken Harrington top of the standings, but he will travel to Valderrama next week for the season-ending Volvo Masters in need of a top-three finish to have any chance of overhauling Ryder Cup team-mate Casey.

"I'll just have to have a good week, but it's hard to go into any tournament trying to win it," admitted Harrington, who never recovered from a double bogey six at the first.

"The option is still there, I still have a chance, but it's hard to win a tournament 'on demand'.

"I'm happy enough with my game. Three rounds ago I was playing great golf so I'm not going to read too much into two rounds where I played badly.

"My wife and child are already in Malaga so I'll head there now and have a few days rest."

Murphy shares the lead with Sweden's Niclas Fasth on three under, with Murphy now able to think about something more than just keeping his card for next season.

The top 118 players on the money list on Sunday evening retain their cards for 2007 and Murphy began the week in 118th place, just over €1,000 ahead of England's David Carter.

"Maybe I need a bit of stress to play better," joked Murphy after a second round 71.

"But there is still a lot of golf to be played, we are only halfway. It's such a battle and you can't get ahead of yourself."

Carter also made the cut on five over, while Jonathan Lomas, 121st in the standings, boosted his chances with a 73 to finish one over.

Sergio Garcia kept alive his hopes for a first win of the season, and second Mallorca Classic title in three years, with a second successive round of 70 to lie three off the lead.

"Ten under par won last year, it's not a low-scoring course and with the changes and the conditions it's even tougher," he said.