GOLF:IN THESE times of economic trouble and strife for most mortals, the quest for the X factor – that rare commodity that sets someone apart – can provide an inspiring distraction for those looking in from the outside and a quest worth pursuing for the person involved.
Yesterday, as Graeme McDowell – the man known as G-Mac – accepted a silver card, not unlike a credit card in appearance, to recognise his elevation to honorary life membership of the PGA European Tour.
This, for sure, has been a year of years for McDowell. As week has followed week and month has followed month, McDowell has ticked one box after another.
US Open champion: Tick!
Ryder Cup hero: Tick!
Since clinching the winning putt for Europe at Celtic Manor, the golfer – ranked ninth in the official world standings – has got back to doing things for himself and, now, he has arrived here in the United Arab Emirates for the season-ending Dubai World Championship with the chance to be Europe’s number one.
In spite of this being his fifth tournament in succession, McDowell remains focused. “The batteries are good, very good. I’ve been amazed how good I’ve felt. I haven’t really been spending the hours on the range the last couple of weeks but I’ve been keeping myself sharp and prepared by resting up as much as I possibly can,” he observed.
McDowell has criss-crossed the time zones in recent weeks in his chase of Martin Kaymer atop the European Tour money list, closing the gap from €1 million to just over €290,000 after a stellar run in Spain (first), China (34th), Singapore (third), Hong Kong (fifth).
The final step can be the hardest to take. And, McDowell, mentally as well as physically strong, is prepared for the challenge. “I think it’s important to look at the big picture this week as opposed to getting sucked in to beating Martin Kaymer on Thursday. I’ve got to beat him by Sunday . . . I’ve got to beat a lot of players this week. I haven’t sat down and had a look at the mathematics, but I need a great week.”
In actual fact, for McDowell to top the Order of Merit, there are no fewer than eight possible scenarios ranging from the possible (if he wins the tournament, he wins the Race to Dubai regardless of Kaymer’s finishing position) to the fanciful (if he finishes tied-third with one other player, Kaymer has to finish 52nd or worse to be overtaken).
“I’m feeling great, I feel that there’s fuel left in the tank. It’s all about getting off to a good start Thursday, Friday and giving myself a chance come the weekend. The golf course didn’t set up for me particularly well last year but I feel I’m a different player this year. I’m 10 yards longer off the tee than I was this time last year. I’m driving the ball better – this course is about driving the golf ball. You’ve got to drive it long, you’ve got to drive it straight and I’m driving it well.
“I’ve got to feel like I’m the guy who’s playing the best of the two of us. But it’s not just about us two because I’ve got to win or finish top three and hope he (Kaymer) doesn’t finish top-10. So, realistically, I’ve got to be targeting the top two spots but there’s a lot of guys to beat, including the world number one and course and distance specialist Lee Westwood. He’s probably got to be the man to beat. And you’ve got your Paul Caseys, Luke Donalds, Ian Poulters and Rory McIlroys and some other seriously strong guys.”
But McDowell, with three wins under his belt this season including a maiden major, is up for this. “I’m buzzing about things. I really am feeling good about my game and my state of mind. In the past I haven’t reacted well to great things happening in my career. It has taken me a period of getting over them.
“Obviously Pebble Beach was something a bit special but I’ve reacted well to the Ryder Cup, I’ve reacted well to the end of the season run and I feel like I am starting to understand myself better and better . . . I guess I look back on my year and I feel very fortunate and very excited by what I’ve achieved. I’ve to try and put it in perspective. If I never hit a shot again after the Ryder Cup, if I’d shot 80 for the rest of the year, I’d have kicked back in the winter and looked back and thought ‘what a dream season’.”
Far from sitting back, McDowell has opted to chase down Kaymer. “This is what I needed. This is why this week was going to work for me, because any tiredness I have in my body ain’t going to come out until Sunday night because I’m going to step on that first tee on Thursday and it’s going to be there. It’s going to be mano-a-mano, the adrenaline will be pumping, it’ll be game on and I’ll be up for it.”
2010 European Tour Race to Dubai
1 M Kaymer (Ger) €3,283,930
2 G McDowell (NIrl) €2,993,019
Difference €290,911
Prize fund in Dubai this week
1st place €910,348
2nd place€606,896
3rd place€355,036
4th place €273,104
5th place €218,483
6th place €177,641
7th place €158,400
8th place €147,476
9th place€136,552
10th place €125,628
O'Grady to have talks
George O'Grady, the PGA European Tour's chief executive, is scheduled to have discussions with Ireland's top professionals in Dubai this week in the on-going endeavours to secure the future of the Irish Open following on from the loss of 3 as title sponsor.
Although the release of the 2011 tour schedule has been delayed as venues for a number of tournaments are finalised, it is believed that the Irish Open, despite the current absence of a sponsor or venue, will be staged on July 28th-31st next year.
"We have been speaking with Mary Hanafin and realistically we have to work together for the future of the Irish Open," said O'Grady, adding: "I have a strategy I feel will work."
