Karlsson wins in Dubai as Kaymer claims top spot

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson won the final European Tour event of the season, the Dubai World Championship, after getting the better of Ian Poulter in a sudden-death play-off. Karlsson holed a birdie putt on the 2nd extra hole to see off the Englishman, but the result could have been different had Poulter not suffered a cruel twist of fate.

As Germany’s Martin Kaymer secured the top spot on The Race to Dubai rankings and claim the European number one spot, Poulter and Karlsson finished together on 14-under par through 72 holes, after the Englishman’s birdie putt on the 18th green in regulation play shaved the hole. Had it dropped, Poulter would have claimed victory.

Replaying the 18th hole for the first time, both men shot to within four feet and holed their respective putts. Then, after both men had found the green in three at the second extra hole, Poulter dropped his ball on his marker from just a couple of inches; clipping the front-edge of the marker and causing it to flip over. Poulter called in the rules official, who applied a one-shot penalty on the Englishman.

“Any accidental movement of the ball marker which occurs before or after the specific act of marking, including as a result of dropping the ball … results in the player incurring a one-stroke penalty,” said chief referee Andy McFee.

It was a blow that would suck the heart from Poulter, seeking to win back-to-back tournaments for the first time in his career, and his putt for par was short of the hole – leaving Karlsson with two putts to win. He only needed one and lifted a winner’s cheque for $1.26 million.

Lee Westwood gave his title defence everything he had, but ultimately came up short after squandering a series of chances to get involved in the finish, but still managed to claim a share of third spot, alongside Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.

Rory McIlroy kept up his remarkable form figures in the Middle East with by claiming fifth spot.

In the tussle for The Race to Dubai, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer finished together on six-under par to share 13th place, alongside six other players. It was perhaps fitting that the pair should finish the tournament deadlocked on the same score, but it was US PGA champion Kaymer who took the top spot.

“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. And obviously when you win a Major you know that you can win any tournament in the world.” Kaymer said afterwards as he was presented with his trophy.

Padraig Harrington to host Irish Open?

Padraig Harrington could act as ‘host’ for next year’s Irish Open after the tournament lost its sponsorship with mobile telecoms firm 3.

Despite failing to find a sponsor, the European Tour has suggested that the tournament will keep its place in the 2011 schedule, and Harrington is looking to bring in new sponsorship for the event.

Asked whether the event would be called the Irish Open hosted by Padraig Harrington, the Dubliner said:

“Yes, if I brought the sponsor it would be and it would have that official tag… I could also see Darren (Clarke) or Graeme (McDowell) or Rory (McIlroy) doing the same in the North. I think if there is an ambassador role to be played it would be based on the connection between the player and the sponsor.”

Harrington finished second behind eventual winner Ross Fisher in the 2010 renewal at Killarney, in what turned out to be one of golf’s greatest 2010 duels.

Speaking in Dubai, where Harrington is contesting the Dubai World Championship, Harrington said he had spoken to European Tour chief executive George O’Grady about the issue.

“I have met with George … the tour certainly want to make sure it’s there on the schedule,” said the world number 21.

“It is a big event again in Europe and it’s at a quality time of the year. While it would be good to have a domestic sponsor, the Irish Open attracts global coverage and that’s why it is up there with €3million in prize money.”

Fisher leads as Kaymer edges closer to being European number one

Germany’s Martin Kaymer put one hand on The Race to Dubai and took a massive step towards being crowned Europe’s number one. The scenario between Kaymer and Graeme McDowell – the only other player who can be named European number one – took on a new twist, with the real possibility that the world number one spot – currently held by England’s Lee Westwood – could also be the subject of a thrilling battle.

Kaymer couldn’t quite find the rhythm of his Thurday effort, but his round of 70 still put him just two shots behind half-way leader Ross Fisher and into a share of fourth place with Paul Casey and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.

Fisher leapt to the head of the field courtesy of a bogey-free round of 64 which saw four birdies apiece on both the front and back nine, and he is tied for the lead with Hong Kong Open victor, Ian Poulter, who carded his second bogey-free round in succession enroute to a 6-under par 66.

Current world number one, Lee Westwood carded a second round 67 to move into third place on his own, while Italian Francesco Molinari carded the same score to go to 6-under par.

However, as Kaymer strengthened his grip at the top of the Race to Dubai, Graeme McDowell endured a frustrating day on the course. After playing the first seven holes in 3-under par, McDowell closed out his front nine with back-to-back bogeys before carding further dropped shots on the 12th and 14th holes to finish one-over at the halfway stage.

As things stand, Kaymer would be crowned European number one, but a win in this tournament could see him usurp Westwood at the head of the world rankings. With Westwood currently in third place, one shot ahead of Kaymer, it looks unlikely that will happen unless Westwood falls apart in the final two rounds. A top two finish could be enough for the German, depending on where Westwood finishes.

Good start for Kaymer, but Karlsson leads Race to Dubai finale

Martin Kaymer began his quest to win the Race to Dubai and be crowned Europe’s number one with a round of 67, but still found himself trailing the lead.

Kaymer got off to an excellent start in his opening round, carding a birdie and an eagle in his first three holes. A bogey on the fourth hole was cancelled by another birdie at the par-3 sixth hole, and the German added a pair of birdies on the homeward nine to come home in 5-under par.

However, he still found himself two shots behind Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who carded a 7-under par 65, and Seung-yul Noh of South Korea who shot a 66 for 6-under par.

Only Kaymer or Irishman Graeme McDowell can win the Race to Dubai, and while the German was enjoying himself on the course, McDowell had a less enjoyable time but still managed to finish with a level par 72 after finding himself two-over par after 12 holes. But as is typical of the Irishman, he dug deep to claw his way back.

McDowell needs to finish in at least third place and hope Kaymer fails to make the top-20 if he is to have any chance of wresting the Race to Dubai crown away.

“He kind of left me in the dust literally out there, so it’s great to get away from him and the distraction tomorrow.” McDowell said afterwards. Having been paired with Kaymer for the first round, McDowell will partner big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros in the second round.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee opened with a 4-under par 68 to take fourth place, while it was a welcome return to form for Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who both went round in 69 to share fifth place with Alejandro Canizares, Charl Schwartzel – who hit a hole-in-one during his round – and Ryder Cup pair Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, the current world’s number one.

Kaymer could even overtake Lee Westwood with a win this week. The prize purse of £777,00 for winning the tournament is supplemented by the Race to Dubai winner receiving an additional £934,024 bonud, and should Kaymer win, he could leapfrog Westwood to the top of the world pile as well, depending on where Westwood himself finishes.

Dubai Masters Betting Preview

The European Tour reaches the end of the 2010 road this week with the Dubai Masters, and the tournament will settle who has the right to be crowned Europe’s number one golfer – at least in terms of money earned.

Come Sunday, either Germany’s Martin Kaymer or Ireland’s Graeme McDowell will have earned that accolade, but this is an event which features the European Tour’s top-60 money earners, so a good competition is assured in what has arguably been Europe’s finest season in golf history.

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