Special Features
Europe’s Best Aim For Heaven On Earth Course @ DWC
The myriad mathematical permutations have been simplified as the leading players in The Race to Dubai aim for heaven on the Earth course, an event which will determine the inaugural Race winner. Who is going to breast the tape first?
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Lee Westwood of England, Martin Kaymer of Germany and a second Englishman, Ross Fisher, know that history lies in their hands. Victory in the Dubai World Championship for any of the first three named will ensure they stand at the summit of European golf on Sunday night.
Should Fisher prevail, the recently crowned Volvo World Match Play Champion could be caught by either McIlroy or Westwood if either of that pair finished second while Kaymer would have insufficient points to reach Fisher. In a nutshell, the Race is well and truly on!
For weeks now, the excitement has been cranked up several notches as McIlroy and Westwood have swapped positions at the head of The Race to Dubai Rankings. At the weekend, it was the turn of 20 year old McIlroy - bidding to become the second youngest European Number One behind the great Seve Ballesteros - to take pole position on the grid.
A mature performance in last week’s UBS Hong Kong Open, where he finished runner-up to Grégory Bourdy, nudged him €128,173 ahead of Westwood, the man who previously occupied the Number One position until collecting a share of 54th place at Fanling.
McIlroy knows he only has to finish higher than his three competitors over the Earth course but he is not interested in any of the many different permutations; he is interested only in winning.
“I will still be trying to win the Dubai World Championship,” said the young man with a wise old head on his shoulders. “I won’t be trying to protect a lead or finish ahead of this guy or that guy. I want to win. If I win it will take care of everything.
“I am Number One at the moment but there are four rounds of golf left. If I can play as well this week in Dubai as I have done of late then I will give myself a great chance to end Number One. It is where I wanted to be going into the final tournament.”
Asked how it would feel to pick up both trophies come Sunday, the Northern Irishman added: “It would be fantastic and that’s my aim. That’s what I am there to do. I was 11 under for the two rounds at the weekend (in Hong Kong) so I have a good momentum going into the final week.”
Westwood was disappointed to relinquish his position as Race to Dubai leader but is confident last week’s performance will not have an adverse effect on his chances of winning at least one trophy in Dubai.
The Englishman is also excited to see the Greg Norman-designed Earth course, which will taste competitive action for the first time on Thursday when the top 58 players atop The Race to Dubai Rankings descend for the season’s finale.
