SHANGHAI, Nov 8 - Padraig Harrington has had only the briefest of periods to enjoy his European order of merit triumph before getting back to work at this week's $5 million Champions tournament.

The scheduling of the European Tour means that just 11 days after the Irishman clinched the 2006 title by finishing joint second at the Volvo Masters in Spain, the 2007 season tees off at the Sheshan International Golf Club.

"I won a week ago and I got a week's enjoyment," Harrington told reporters on Wednesday. "I suppose at the end of the week... it's possible we'll have a new European number one. It only lasts such a short period.

"There's only one person who prefers more time -- the guy who has won the order of merit.

"Everybody else is raring to get going for the next year. I suppose it would be nice to hold the title for a little longer period of time. It only effects one person so it's not a big deal."

Harrington, who will play alongside New Zealand's Michael Campbell and experienced local Zhang Lianwei in the opening two rounds on Thursday and Friday, is hoping for a better performance here this week than last year's share of 15th.

"The course and conditions are quite different so far to last year," he said. "Seems a lot warmer this week. It's a lot firmer. "I have been in good form, and I'm very comfortable with my form coming into this event.

"I do find this golf course difficult, so we'll have to wait and see -- I hope everybody else finds it difficult.

"I'm probably not putting as well as I would like to, so I'm doing a bit of practising on that and hopefully that will correct itself for the four days. If I putt well and I have been playing good enough golf, yes, I can win."

Americans Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, the top two players in the world, are also in the field at the event, which is co-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Southern Africa tours as well as the China Golf Association.