Valderrama, the scene of so many exciting finales to The European Tour in seasons past, will again provide the dramatic backdrop for another gripping conclusion to the race to win the Order of Europe this week. A new name will appear on the coveted Harry Vardon Trophy after the Volvo Masters Sunday night – and it could be any of four people.
The contest to succeed Colin Montgomerie as European Number One has proved to be one of the most exhilarating for many years, with Paul Casey €2,409,241) leading the way from Padraig Harrington (€2,191,056), David Howell third €2,166,366) and Robert Karlsson (€2,000,092).
Depending on a combination of results in the season-ending Volvo Masters on the Costa del Sol’s most famous golf course, the current order could be reshuffled with a first prize of €666,660 at stake from a total prize fund of €4,000,000.
Howell, who led the Order of Merit race from the gun by winning the HSBC Champions tournament last November, was overhauled by Casey when the latter won another HSBC sponsored event, the World Match Play Championship, in September. Suddenly it was ‘game on’.
Howell, struggling to shake off a shoulder injury, missed the cut in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as Harrington made his bold move. The Irishman climbed over Howell into second place with a victory which earned him €630,566 at St Andrews. Casey, who shared sixth place, kept the momentum going with another €122,960 to add to his ledger.
Casey then escaped for a two week holiday in the United States, Howell focussed on getting fit again while Harrington and Karlsson opted to tackle the Mallorca Classic. For Harrington, it was a frustrating exercise as he missed the cut but Karlsson kept his prospects alive by tieing for eight place and picking up €35,050.
While Casey tries to protect his lead of €281,185 over the chasing pack, the Englishman admitted modestly that he doesn’t truly feel he deserves to be on top right now. He said: “I feel very lucky to be ahead of ‘Howler’. He has had injury and fitness problems for much of the year and if he hadn’t, I think David would have been so far ahead by now that it would all be over.
“Having said that, I feel very, very honoured to be at the top of the list right now. It would be wonderful to win the Order of Merit. I think I would have to pinch myself if I won. To be Number One in Europe at the end of the year is a heck of an achievement for anybody.”
Howell, who made his play for the Vardon Trophy with two huge victories, including the BMW Championship in May, is hoping that two weeks of rest and recuperation have had the desired effect. Like his close friend Casey, he wants to capture the crown at the end of his best season.
“It would be a fantastic achievement if I could pull it off” declared Howell. “Obviously when I joined the Tour Colin (Montgomerie) was winning the Order of Merit every year hands down and it seemed inconceivable that anyone else was going to win it. Then it was the turn of Ernie (Els) and Retief (Goosen) and now it’s down to the four of us.
“It would be wonderful to have that trophy on the sideboard. It’s something I never really thought I would achieve, but I am on the verge of doing it. If I can’t, then it will be a great year tinged with disappointment.”
Harrington’s desire was never in doubt, either, as he finished off his win at St Andrews by immediately pledging to make the trip to Majorca. Although he was unable to close the gap on Casey, he is ready for a scrap right to the wire this week.
He said: “It would be a big deal to me to win the Order of Merit. Certainly I've been using it as a motivation after The Ryder Cup to get focused and to get out on the golf course and push on. The Order of Merit being such a big deal - certainly something you want to have in your C.V. – and keeps you pushing on.
“It is directly behind the Majors. At the end of the day, you can win whatever tournaments you like, but you're going to be judged at the end of your career on how many tournament wins you have, and then how many Majors and after that you're going to be judged on did you win Order of Merit and maybe your World Ranking.”
A year ago Paul McGinley emerged from the pack on the final Sunday at Valderrama to claim the title and force his way into Ryder Cup contention. As everyone knows now, McGinley made the European Tour in his native land and played a key role in the 18 ½ - 9 ½ victory over the United States.
A strong finish in Majorca ensured McGinley finished inside the top 60 on the Order of Merit to qualify by right, rather than getting into the field as defending champion. He joins up with fellow Ryder Cup winners Casey, Harrington, Howell, Karlsson, Montgomerie, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, José Maria Olazábal, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood at Valderrama.
