Europeans on the rise

23/11/2009 - 15:22:02
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie should be a happy man today - for the first time ever, Europe has six players in the world’s top 10.

They include Rory McIlroy, who at 20 years six months is the second youngest ever to be part of the elite group.

The Northern Irishman’s third-place finish at the Dubai World Championship - not enough to make him Europe’s number one this season with Lee Westwood taking the title – enabled him to join Westwood, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia.

Waiting in the wings are Martin Kaymer at 12th, Ian Poulter 13th and Ross Fisher 20th.

Americans still occupy the top three positions with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker, while 49-year-old Kenny Perry is the most immediate target for McIlroy at ninth.

Based on the current standings Montgomerie would be able to pick a 12-strong line-up entirely of players in the top 33, but United States captain Corey Pavin need go down only to 31st-placed Nick Watney.

McIlroy is in China this week for the World Cup and, despite his disappointment at failing to hold onto the Order of Merit lead in the final week he insists he is ready to give it his all.

He partners Graeme McDowell, with whom he won three out of four games for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe at the Vivendi Trophy in September.

“It would be great to win and bring the trophy home to Northern Ireland!” he joked with Irish reporters in Dubai.

In golf the two countries compete as one and Dubliners Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were successful in 1997.

When it comes to the Olympics, however, McIlroy has already said he intends to compete for Great Britain if he qualifies.

He earned €1m in the United Arab Emirates from his third place in the event and second place on the money list – but a small fraction of it may have to be paid back.

McIlroy smashed an advertising hoarding in frustration during his final round and European Tour director of operations David Garland said the incident will be looked into.

During the 2007 Open at Carnoustie Stenson broke a tee marker and was fined £500.

“It was better than JP (his caddie JP Fitzgerald) feeling my wrath, I suppose,” said McIlroy. “I’d hit the board with my second shot and it was not my favourite thing in the world at that point.”