PADRAIG HARRINGTON said a bedtime book proved pivotal as he tasted his first victory on European soil in eight years at the Portugal Masters, though it didn't make great reading for the Scots competing at Vilamoura.

Harrington collected his 30th title worldwide in posting a final round 65 to deny the defending champion, Andy Sullivan, by a shot with a 23-under par tally on the Oceanico Victoria course.

Harrington revealed he put his victory down to the book ‘Pressure Principle’, a paperback released earlier this year by Dave Alred, who has worked with England premiership sides Manchester City, Sunderland and Watford along with the England Rugby team, the British Lions plus golfers such as Luke Donald and Harrington.

“It gave me a few pointers that maybe I'd been missing out on and I stuck to those all week. It was a big plus for me," he said.

But it was not all plain sailing for Harrington who gave himself a fright when he sprayed his second shot down the last into a greenside grandstand.

Harrington’s ball left a clear mark after cannoning off an advertising board fronting the stand before landing in rough but he chipped to three-foot par past the flag and ultimately holed the winning putt.

It was his first win on European soil since capturing the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and a first ‘regular’ European Tour triumph since landing the 2007 Irish Open at Adare Manor.

“I feel really good as I was very relaxed all week, and I was in a nice place mentally," he said. “I've been winning elsewhere over the last number of years. I won last year in the States and I've won a few events in Asia so I've been winning enough to keep me going but it is nice to win in Europe and it's always important to win in each decade.”

Fellow Open champion Paul Lawrie led home the Scots grabbing seven birdies in a four under par 67 to share fifth place at 20-under par. Lawrie ends his year 121st on the Race to Dubai and is exempt into 2017 off the all-time money earning list.

Marc Warren (69) and Stephen Gallacher (68) were three shots back at 17-under par but with Warren’s effort seeing him fall six places shy of breaking into the top-60 on the Race to Dubai.

Gallacher picked up six spots to end his 20th year on Tour at 123th on the money list, and 12 spots short of the 111th ranked cut-off mark. The Bathgate pro, and like Lawrie. is more than likely to be exempt for the 2017 season via his top-40 standing on the all-time European money list.

Richie Ramsay (70) shared 31st spot on 13-under par buy ends his season at 68th on the money list to join both Warren and Gallacher in also missing out on the Final Series.

David Drysdale, with a last day 70 at 11-under par, closed out his 15th season on the Tour 91st on the Race to Dubai and the eighth year in a succession the Borders ace proudly had has held onto his card.

Scott Jamieson breathed a huge sigh of relief despite ending with a 70 for a share of 50th place at 10-under par and with his effort seeing the Glaswegian end his season 108th on the money list and retaining full playing rights by just £4817.

“It was a bit of a struggle the first half of the season but since the Czech Masters, I've started to play a lot better.

“So nice to sneak over the line just at the end but it's not where I want to be.

“At the end of the year I want to be more at the top end of things and not having to have sleepless nights or whatever it may be. Yeah, it's a relief.

“There's going to be a lot of guys that just miss out. Some of them good friends, as well. Feel for them.”

Those friends include fellow Scot Craig Lee who had missed the Portugal cut with a bogey at the last on Friday that saw him drop from 109th on the Race to Dubai and lose his Tour card in ending his year 113th.