I thought these guys were rich? They can't even knock a few houses together...

When the players showed up for the showcase event of the year, at the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, for the pinnacle of the Race to Dubai - to contest for what will be the most richly awarded prize in European Golfing history - they may have wondered quite where the money was going to be produced from. Even the richest parts of the world have found these credit crunch times difficult it seems, as the luxury courseside homes meant to have been snapped up by rich westerners to entertain their chums during the event remain in various states of completion - it's one of the most expensive of building sites you'll ever come across. Not the opulent surroundings that the organisers would have been anticipating they would present to the world. As an indicator of just how behind schedule and underfunded the event has become, grandiose plans for the Earth course being played on this week to be joined with Wind, Air and Fire courses have been shelved, only Fire is thought to remain a possibility of ever being actually made.

The lake feature beside the 6th hole is said to stink to high heaven, which begs the question how can a country - lets not forget the entire season long Order of Merit has been renamed the Race to Dubai by virtue of this tournament - a country which in 18 months built the most spectacular venue for the season ending Formula one race, including a marina, a track spanning Hotel which changes colour and the immense Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island which was so breathtaking in scale I couldn't quite believe it was real. Look at the pictures. Is this why the Race to Dubai has been left looking like it's finished a bit soon? The audience for an F1 race is worldwide and massive and I think I know where the priority may have lay. It seems to me to be a bit of a kick in the teeth for the European tour that things have been left in this state for what was to be the Flagship event.

Fortunately, no matter what state the course surroundings are in, the course is up to scratch and the main men have shown up, McIlroy and Westwood are going at it hammer and tongs over the first two rounds, and it appears that they're going to give the organisers a script which may make up for any shortcomings on the luxury villa side of things...

Each hold back to see what the other is going to do as the Race to Dubai gets cagey.

The organisers of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin GC must have been licking their lips at the prospect of the four guys currently fighting it out in the Race to Dubai going head to head this week. They probably have a bit of a sour taste in their mouth now however as they watch the four main protagonists propping up their respective tables.

They're just not playing ball.

Saying that, McIlroy and westwood are having better luck in this mornings matches, it may kick into life soon....

The race is on anyone can still win, any one of four people (thought in all likelihood it's not gonna be Paul Casey - and you'd fancy Kaymer to choke)

We're rapidly approaching the zenith of the most exciting race ever to take place in the history of European Golf. It's safe to say thatThe Race to Dubai has truly captured the imagination of accountants of european professional golfers all over the globe. And it couldn't be any hotter up there at the top.

Ideally, the race has been kept as Open as possible between the four contenders still vying for the prize (coinkydink? me think not...). Messrs Westwood, Kaymer, Casey and McIlroy are each in different groups for the World Matchplay at Finca Cortesin, setting up a potential four way battle. Here's the standings at the moment.

European Tour Race to Dubai
26-Oct
1 Lee Westwood Eng 2,241,940 euro
2 Martin Kaymer Ger 2,155,765
3 Rory McIlroy NI 2,032,695
4 Paul Casey Eng 1,965,150
5 Geoff Ogilvy Aus 1,606,805
6 Oliver Wilson Eng 1,533,534
7 Ross Fisher Eng 1,524,347
8 Simon Dyson Eng 1,395,317
9 Angel Cabrera Arg 1,385,499
10 Soren Kjeldsen Den 1,240,053

I have a feeling it's more of a three horse race, with Casey coming back from injury it'll be a big ask for him to compete. McIlroy has shown already in his short career that he is quite a handful in the matchplay format, I fancy him to go well and close the gap at the top.

These boys should be aware thought that they need to make hay while the sun shines, with the USPGA tour chief off sniffing around the emirates, the prizefund may not be around for too much longer.

Monty held his grin as he received the Vardon trophy despite Faldo's derogatory chant of "It's not a f***ing Major"

But it wasn't always such fantastically corporate thing. In days of yore men battled it out for the Order of Merit - get that, "merit" - awarding acheivement throughout the golfing year. Less mercenary times those... Granted it was still about the accumulation of vast sums of money (shamefully exposing just how blooming rich those guys are) but there was no huge pot of gold sitting at the end of an oily rainbow back then. Handily I've supplied you with a list of the previous winners, back when it was about the glory (and only partially about the money), such things need to be documented for posterity. It's all part of the service.

Tiger does it for Freddie - world rejoices to see Couples smiley face

Kim smiled through gritted teeth as Freddie's vice like grip made powder of his bones - Couples will not stand for flouting of Golf Cart Health and Safety Regulations

If anyone was going to get the best out of Tiger Woods in the midst of a team format, Freddie Couples was surely that man. If you're doing it for Freddie, you're not gonna want to let the man down. The thought of a crestfallen Fred would be too horrible to contemplate, no, you must strive to make sure you're putting a rosy smile on those cheeks.

Which is why I was less than surprised to see Tiger rip it up at the Presidents Cup. The Couples Factor dictated he would do so. Also, asides from being effortlessly motivational just through his sheers lovability (you wish you were huggin Fred right now, don't you) there is also the sage captaincy he shown. All Tiger wants is to be sent out with a wise old hand who is not a major rival or potential rival for media attention - step forward Steve Stricker.

So relaxed was El numero uno, that he hadn't realised he'd bagged the momnetous "winning" putt.

"Did I really? I had no idea," he said when it was pointed out to him that he just won the trophy for his team. "I was just trying to get my point."

You see, he doesn't really give a pish about whether the team won, it's all about Tiger. Maybe that shall be the secret that Corey Pavin can employ to get more out of him at the Ryder Cup. Make it a personal competition for him. Make him chase the individual points record, point out that he has the oppotunity to go flawless in the Ryder stright after a flawless Presidents. Put up a big post comparing his crappy record to the journeymen down the years that racked up points for fun. Cause there's only won thing you'll be able to get him interested in and that's winning for him...

Getting the chance to put one over on Yang may have had something to do with it too...

Exciting times as the big boys strike form

It was a real treat for golf fans yesterday as two giants of the game who have both been struggling for form found it in a big way at firestone. Padraig harrington has been all over the place with his driving of late, as the changes to his swing which he has made have struggled to bed in. Yet it seems to have clicked for him in a big way this week as he goes in to the final round atten under and looking like the champion of old. He has certainly gained some length off the tee if perhaps sacrificing accuracy but it seems to be giving him that next step which he thought his game required. The last few months have been a struggle but it seems to have enhanced his powers of recovery. He's produced som mercurial shots this week to keep the momentum going and it is a talent which will stand him in good stead.

A fine 65 from tiger woods puts him in the final group today as well, a final pairing to get the juices going if ever there was one. The control he had over his shot making yesterday was as good as I've seen from the great one. As butch harmon said in commentary if he kept using that left to right shot shape there would be no reason he should ever lose.

It's a contest we have all been looking forward to for some time and it would surprise me
at all if this was just a warm up for an epic battle between the defending harrington and the predatory tiger at the uspga next week. It should be a humdinger!