Can Donald Fight Off McIlroy To Finish Top Of Race To Dubai & Complete The Money List Double?

 

By Rod Crowley: The 2011 "Race to Dubai" reaches its conclusion this week with the Dubai World Golf Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates and at the end of the four days, there will be two champions crowned, firstly the winner of the tournament itself and the 2011 winner of the "Race" itself, which was previously known as the European Tour Money list, will also be decided.

It is even possible that the same golfer could be crowned both! The event is only open the top sixty players on the tour and with $10,000,000 up for grabs in prize money, including $1.6 million to the winner, a competitive end to the season is guaranteed. 

Twelve months ago, the Race to Dubai was won by Martin Kaymer but it was Sweden's Robert Karlsson who won this final tournament.

Having played most of his golf on the US PGA Tour this year, Karlsson only managed to qualify in 42nd place which means he is well out of contention of topping the money list whilst Kaymer, although consistent form on the tour in 2011 is currently in third place he is unable to overtake the current leader, Luke Donald.

Donald has also played much of his golf in the States this year but his performance have seen him establish a comfortable lead at the head of the Race to Dubai having earned €3, 856,394 from just 12 tournaments! World number one, Donald, also finished top the money list on the US PGA Tour and could become the first man in history to win both the American and European Tours in the same season.

His consistency has been truly remarkable with four wins and a host of high placed finishes, which has kept him at the number one spot in the world golf rankings for most of the year even though a major win still eludes him.

Fittingly, the only man who can leapfrog Donald in the Race to Dubai is the current world number two, Rory McIlroy, who will need to win the final tournament this weekend and hope that Donald does not make the top ten. Any other outcome would result in Donald winning.

McIlroy has also had a remarkable year, the highlight being his record breaking victory at the US Open in June, earning the 22 year old a first "Major" and huge acclaim in the process.

There are many golfing commentators who believe that McIlroy can reach the same heights that Tiger Woods has done and the Ulsterman heads to Dubai on the back of a great win in Hong Kong last weekend and is the favourite amongst bookmakers to win but Luke Donald is also amongst the front runners.

Luke Donald, who suffered the loss of his father recently, during the same week as his wife gave birth to their second daughter, only returned to playing last week.

He was one of 12 golfers invited to compete in the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City but could only manage seventh place, leaving some questioning his frame of mind and current form. However, he knows what is on the line this week and he will be surely be in determined mood to deny McIlroy his slim chance of finishing ahead of him.

Winner for the second successive year in Sun City was Lee Westwood, who in the process broke the course record with an amazing third round of 62. He too has been in terrific form for most of the year which has secured him, along with Donald and McIlroy, in the top three in the world golf rankings.

Westwood won both the tournament and the Race to Dubai in its inaugural year in 2009 and although he is too far behind Donald this year to top the list, he still poses a major threat to both Donald and McIlroy in the tournament.

Martin Kaymer Happy To See Tiger Woods Return

USPGA champion Martin Kaymer is the latest player to announce his delight at seeing Tiger Woods return to Golf, the former World no1 has been out of the game since May 12 because of a Knee and Achilles tendon injury.

Woods is set to make his comeback at WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on the Firestone course in Akron, Ohio where he has won the title seven times.

Kaymer has expressed his delight at Woods return, he said; "I really hope that he will play well. We need him - we really need him,”

"Obviously what Rory did at the US Open was huge, but Tiger has been so successful over the years and it will be great if he comes back and shows us all or proves that he's the best player who ever played the game."
Tiger Woods himself suggest he hasn’t feel this great for years, "I'm excited - excited to compete, to play and hopefully win the golf tournament." He added.

Tiger has won 14 major titles, but he’s last major came 38 months ago and his last tournament win being 21 months ago.

The American will be keen to do well at WGC Bridgestone.

Tiger Woods Pulls Out Of British Open

Tiger Woods has been forced to pull out of the forthcoming British Open, the former World Number One had hoped to be in contention to play at next week's Open Championship at Sandwich.

Woods has been struggling ever since pulling out of the Players Championship with Achilles and knee injuries in his left leg; the American has undergone a rehabilitation program in hope of returning to full fitness to play at the season's third major.

Tiger was advised that it would be best to miss the Championship rather than risk another setback which in-turn could make the injury a lot worse.

"Unfortunately, I've been advised that I should not play in the British Open," Woods stated on his official website.

"As I stated at the AT&T National, I am only going to come back when I'm 100% ready. I do not want to risk further injury.

Having played which the injury before, which has forced the player to be out of action for a while, Woods has now decided to play it safe and wants to return once he is fully fit.

"That's different for me, but I'm being smarter this time. I'm very disappointed and want to express my regrets to the British Open fans."

Woods had hoped to return for the US Open but did not make that and also missed last week's AT&T National.

"In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have competed at The Players, but it's a big event and I wanted to be there to support the tour," added Woods.

"I've got to learn from what I did there and do it right this time and not come back until I'm ready.

"I think my best years are still ahead of me and I'm very confident and optimistic about the future."

Rory McIlroy Wins US Open

Rory McIlroy has won this US Open, after dominating play since the first day's play claiming his maiden major title as the Northern Irish golfer won the tournament at Congressional Country Club.

McIlroy was engineering nothing short of a mass conversion, the galleries were watching a 22 year-old execute a strategy for dominating the US Open precisely how he wanted it.

Rory McIlroy wins the U.S. Open for first major, breaking tournament records.

McIlroy shot 2-under 69 Sunday to close the four days at Congressional at 16-under 268, shattering a U.S. Open scoring record held by four players, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

He became only the third player in US Open history to fire all four rounds in the 60s and he was the youngest winner of the tournament since Bobby Jones in 1923.

Luke Donald hailed the play of Rory McIlroy after ending his own disappointing US Open with a two-under 69.

Tiger Woods Out Of US Open

Former World No1 Tiger Woods has been forced to pull out of the US Open at Congressional which is due to take place next week, Woods is still recovering after suffering a knee and Achilles tendon injuries which he suffered during the Masters in April and then Woods suffered a re-occurrence of the same injuries at the Players' Championship last month.

Tiger was forced to withdraw after playing nine holes at Sawgrass and the latest news will come a big blow for the former world no 1 after the serious nature of the injuries.

"Not playing in US Open. Very disappointed. Short-term frustration for long-term gain," he wrote on his Twitter site.

"I was hopeful that I could play, but if I did I risk further damage to my left leg.

"My knee and Achilles tendon are not fully healed. I hope to be ready for AT&T National (on June 30-July 3), the next two majors and the rest of the year.

"It's been a frustrating and difficult year, but I'm committed to my long-term health.

"I want to thank the fans for their encouragement and support. I am truly grateful and will be back playing when I can."