Golf Update: Kaymer lands in Dubai to mark the year end at the Dubai World Championship
According to the sources, Martin Kaymer has reached Dubai and is gearing up for the dry, hot winds in mid November. The German is leading the ‘Race to Dubai rankings’ and eyeing the number one title in Dubai World Championship.
The tournament will kick off on Thursday at Jumeirah Golf Estate with a prize win of $7500, 000 sponsored by JP World. The mega event will mark the end of the European tour and it will nominate a new number one for Europe. Earlier, it was Lee Westwood, who
claimed the victory in 2009 evoking new career heights in the preceding year.
Once again, the prize money and the title are out for grab and sixty top players in the Race to Dubai are ready to compete for it. The marathon started in early 2010 and made its route through 26 destinations to settle by the coast of Dubai.
According to few analysts, the real combat will be between Ian Poulter (number 5), Lee Westwood (number 3), Graeme Mc Dowell (number 2), and Martin Kaymer (number 1).These rankings have been awarded to the players according to their earnings in Europe. As
Kaymer won four tournaments, therefore, he is currently residing on the top.
Despite being at the top, the German is feeling threatened and the originating source of the threat is the negligible gap of £250,000 between him and Graeme Mc Dowell. Moreover, if G-Mac finishes in top three, he will automatically override Kaymer with £932,024.Therefore,
this is the last chance for the 25-year-old to try his luck for the world number one rank. Earlier, Kaymer lost the PGA Grand Slam along with the title and then he lost the HSBC Champions. Winning the two events would have taken him where, Westwood is standing
right now.
Lee Westwood is the defending champion for the event. To stay at the top, the Englishman has to finish in the top two, if Kaymer wins on Sunday. If Kaymer finished second, then Westwood will have to seize a position in top 27.
Considering the odds, if Kaymer wins the tournament, he will walk away with £1,708,711, which is twice the amount offered last year. Same amount can be banked by Mc Dowell, provided he focuses on his putting this time. However, if Kaymer loses then the lowest
he can drop to on the money list is second, which is worth a bonus of almost £700,000. For McDowell, the lowest could mean third spot on the list, which is worth £466,000.
Knowing the facts, both the veterans are very happy with their achievements. Disclosing his sentiments in front of the press Kaymer said,
"It's been a fantastic season for me. To win my first major (the US PGA) and to be part of the winning Ryder Cup team is way above my expectations to be honest. Obviously when you win a major, you know that you can win any tournament in the world. I have
played very well the last few months and going into this week, I feel confident about my game. Hopefully I can play well and make sure that I win the Race to Dubai somehow."
G-Mac said, "I am very happy with my form and my energy levels going into Dubai. Of course, I am within touching distance now and I have to play well, simple as that. I cannot control Martin's golf ball - only mine. I am going to go and play my own game
and see what happens. I have a few things to brush up on, but all in all I'm feeling really good about my game. I'm playing well enough to win and that's all I can ask."
Kaymer and McDowell are convinced that they will walk away with some form of bonus and if luck is on their side then chances are that one of them will be crowned as the new reigning king of European golf.
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