I've already spoken about the Race to Dubai, and how I've come around to its way of thinking. I must say, I'm confident now that it is the dawning of a new era for the European Tour. It will provide more competition for all, which can be tough on the journeyman pro, but in the long run, it's a positive. The first event sees Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Mike Weir, and Camilo Villegas to name but a few teeing it up in Shanghai. Kim and Villegas are the new stars of the game, and to have them playing on both sides of the pond is a huge positive for world golf.
Congratulations to Soren Kjeldsen (I finally got a tip right in last week's column) and Robert Karlsson on taking the final Volvo Masters and the Order of Merit respectively. In the end the OM title was almost an anticlimax, but Lee Westwood put up a spirited battle until midway through Sunday. I said last week that Kjeldsen just needed to hole a few putts early, and that's exactly what he did. On Thursday, he only hit 9 greens, and yet had 8 birdies. He played great golf and ground out a win on a very tough course.
I hope Valderrama retains a place on the circuit - it's too good a course to miss out on having an event; it's never eaten up by the players and anything can happen down the last 3 holes, so a tournament's never over until the last putt is holed.
Before leaving Spain for Shanghai, just to update you on Seve - he's making good progress apparently, and was speaking to his family yesterday, but he'll remain in intensive care. As always, our best wishes go to him and his family.
So, who's going to lead the Race to Dubai after week 1? I'm going to stick with the guy I've been backing all month. He had a poor start at Valderrama put played solid golf in terrible conditions on Friday and Saturday to come in 11th. He lost in a playoff to Mickelson here last year, after a God-awful chip on the last that ran into the water, when he only needed a 5 for the championship. As long as he gets through that hole on Thursday ok, I think he'll be in the top few come Sunday.
Paul Casey's got a great record at the course - 3 top 10s from 3 starts. He's had a quiet time recently, but if he gets his putter going he'll be in there.
For once I'm not going with Karlsson and Harrington, and I'll probably be punished. I think Karlsson will just have felt such a relief in wrapping up the OM, and he needs a rest. Harrington had a torrid time last weekend, and he needs a good winter break to bring his game back to its best.
Anthony Kim is playing, and that makes it exciting enough. He had a phenomenal year on Tour, with 2 wins and a few more top 5s. He starred in the Ryder Cup, and he's declared his intentions to world golf. He wants to win, and he wants to win everywhere. Don't be surprised if he gets his European Tour career off to the perfect start.
Finally, Sergio. He had a quiet day on Sunday at Valderrame - he just never really got it going. The important thing is that he's playing good golf and putting pretty well. I expect him to be in the top 5 in this once again.
The best thing about golf is that the new season starts 4 days after the old one ends. I'm excited about this - the only problem is it'll be on too early in the morning for me to watch it.
I think it'll be a great event, and a great year for golf.
Enjoy.
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