The European Tour season comes to an exciting climax this week with the Race To Dubai finale taking place at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.
There seemed likely to be little to play for a couple of months ago, with Germany’s Martin Kaymer holding a massive lead at the top of the order of merit, but Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell has slowly closed the gap to his fellow 2010 Major winner.
Kaymer now heads the standings by 290,910 euros, with a first prize of 910,348 euros on offer at the Dubai World Championships, which plays host to only the European Tour’s top 60 performers.
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Kaymer, who won the USPGA title earlier this season, told the European Tour’s official website: “It’s been a fantastic season for me.
“To win my first Major and to be part of the winning Ryder Cup Team is way above my expectations, to be honest. Hopefully I can play well and make sure that I win The Race to Dubai somehow.”
Meanwhile, McDowell admitted: “Of course I am within touching distance now and I’ve got to play well, simple as that.
“I can’t control Martin’s golf ball – only mine. I’m going to go and play my own game and see what happens.”
McDowell has been in the hunt in his past few tournaments and must be a strong contender for glory in the Middle East, but his hopes of victory could be thwarted by last year’s winner, Lee Westwood.
The Englishman has enjoyed a superlative year, despite injury problems, and with the world number one ranking his to keep for the time being, Westwood will be able to relax and push for the retention of his crown.
Of course, such a high-class field also includes a number of players going into the action in fine form, no-one more so than Ian Poulter, who won the Hong Kong Open last weekend.
The Italian Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, are both in the top ten in the Race To Dubai standings and have shown an aptitude to shine on the big stage, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy will hope to end the campaign in style.
He finished in third place in Dubai 12 months ago and could be a good bet to go even better this time.
England’s Ross McGowan was runner-up to Westwood in 2009 and as he lies 12th in the standings this year, he could be worth an each-way punt.
