Bigfoot Golf Tours

We are a little more than three months into the Tiger Woods experiment: How long would it take the world’s most dominant golfer to re-establish his dominance? The answer: longer than three months. While Tiger still holds the No. 1 ranking, he has not won in seven starts. In the beginning of the year, the problem seemed to be his erratic driving. Now, consensus seems to be forming around his putting. This clip from last week’s British Open says it all:

The press has been quick to point out Tiger’s woes: “Without hot putter, nothing special about Tiger.” I’ve been working on an upcoming Slate series on golf statistics, and I can say with confidence that such a headline is ridiculous. Tiger is exceptional in all aspects of the game. That all-around excellence is what makes him an order of magnitude better than his peers. But how exactly does Tiger win? While he’s historically been an excellent putter, it’s his long-iron game where he gains the most advantage over other players. He can consistently hit shots from 150-250 yards closer to the hole, which turns out to be a powerful scoring boost.

It is clear, though, that Tiger has lost ground this year. I took a deeper look at Tiger’s 2010 stats to try to understand why. Is it really just the putting? Is his long-iron play no longer the force it used to be?

We can assess each part of Tiger’s game because the PGA Tour keeps track of every shot at standard PGA events through a system called ShotLink. Though Tiger has not played enough rounds this year to appear in all the ShotLink stats that you’ll find on the PGA site, I was able to obtain Tiger’s previously unpublished 2010 numbers. So far this year, Tiger has played 13.5 rounds (he withdrew from the Players Championship during the fourth round) in PGA Tour events and another 12 rounds in three major championships (the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open). During those PGA Tour events, ShotLink’s lasers track every shot, giving us precise measurements. The majors, which aren’t fully incorporated into ShotLink, give us less exact data but are included in counting stats like driving accuracy and greens in regulation.

Though we don’t want to extrapolate too much from this limited data, we have enough to compile a rough guide to the state of Tiger’s game.

Driving

Tiger’s average driving distance this year is 297.3, good enough for 12th on tour and only a yard short of his 2009 average. His driving accuracy is 60 percent, meaning that he’s hitting six out of 10 fairways. Again, that’s about the same as 2009. Driving accuracy isn’t the most useful stat out there, since a drive that misses by 30 feet counts the same as a drive that misses by a foot. (Often, it’s better to miss the fairway by a wide margin, because your ball lands in the tamped-down grass where the spectators have been walking.) I’m going to grade Tiger’s driving as “just fine.” He’s not the longest hitter on tour anymore, but he hits it plenty far enough, and he’s not losing ground to other players off the tee.

Greens in Regulation

This stat essentially records how many birdie opportunities you’re getting. Hitting a green in regulation on a par 4 means reaching it in two strokes; on a par 3, it means landing your tee shot on the green. In 2009, Tiger’s GIR was 68.46 percent, 16th on tour. In 2010, he’s at 65.56 percent, 91st on tour. So Tiger has had slightly fewer birdie chances. More telling is a related stat called “proximity to the hole,” which is an average of how close to the pin a player has been landing the ball. In 2010, Tiger has been landing the ball, on average, 2.5 feet farther from the hole. That may not seem like much, but it’s enough to drop Tiger from a 2009 ranking of 55th to a 2010 ranking of 141st.

The proximity stat gives you a sense of how close in skill PGA Tour players are. Being 2.5 feet farther from the hole, week in and week out, is an enormous disadvantage. That’s because the statistics on putting are pretty simple: The closer you are to the hole, the more putts you make.

Approaches from 175-225 Yards

Tiger has been excellent from these distances in 2010. He would be ranked first on tour if he’d played enough rounds to make the official rankings. His remarkable ball striking from this range is what keeps him in tournaments when other departments of his game are lagging. It’s Tiger’s approach shots from closer in that have been dragging him down. From shorter distances, he’s landing it farther away from the pin, and his ranks have dropped 40 or so places from 2009.

Scrambling

Just as GIR is a rough measure of your ability to make birdies, scrambling is a rough measure of your ability to avoid bogeys. A successful scramble is when you get up-and-down after missing the green—you chip and then you sink the putt. This is where Tiger’s game has deteriorated the most in 2010. Last year, Tiger was ranked first in scrambling—he got up-and-down 68 percent of the time. This year, he’s at 53 percent, which would rank him 170th.

Scrambling is a statistic that combines two skills, chipping and putting. So it could be that Tiger’s chipping has been subpar, or maybe his chips have been just fine, and he’s just not putting well.

Putting

So is the putter the villain after all? To give you a benchmark, the research shows that pros make 50 percent of their putts from precisely eight feet. Last year, Tiger made 54 percent of his putts from eight feet—better than average but not amazing. Where the stats get crazy is when you start moving closer to the hole. Tiger made 85 percent of his putts from six feet (ranking: one), 89 percent from five feet (ranking: seven), 96 percent from four feet (ranking: six), and 99 percent from three feet (ranking: tied for 13th). In 2009, he was ranked first on tour in all putts less than 10 feet—he just doesn’t miss the short ones. While Tiger hasn’t taken enough putts in 2010 to break down his percentages by specific distances, his ranking has fallen to 129th on all putts less than 10 feet. The foundation of his great putting is in danger of eroding.

Putts from 10 to 15 feet are putts that you would like to make. One tour coach described that distance to me as the typical birdie range. If you are sinking 12-footers and 15-footers, you are likely picking up strokes on the field. Tiger has also fallen off in this distance, but it’s also true that this has never been his biggest strength. We’ve all watched Tiger seemingly will in a birdie putt when he needed it, but it’s Tiger’s putting from short range that has been his bedrock skill.

The final piece of Tiger’s putting ability is his lag putting—the ability to knock it close to the hole from long distances. The average pro is not expecting to sink many putts from more than 20 feet (nor do they—they average about one per tournament). The goal is to knock the ball close to the hole and avoid the three-putt. This is yet another area where Tiger has traditionally been the best on Tour. But a ShotLink stat called “3-putt avoidance” shows that Tiger’s long putts have been substandard this year. He’s dropped from 18th to 182nd. He’s not doing as tidy housekeeping on the green.

Again, the 2010 ShotLink numbers represent a limited data set, but they do indicate that Tiger’s problems are indeed centered on the green. A return to form is not just a matter of mysteriously getting “hot” with the putter. Rather, Tiger needs to re-find the core putting skills that have distinguished him: the ability to concentrate on the short ones so that you almost never miss, and the ability to lag the long ones close so that you rarely three-putt.

That kind of putting excellence under tournament conditions requires a staggering focus over the ball. And we all know that Tiger has been distracted lately.

Taken from MSN Slate

LOS ANGELES — Dustin Johnson made a hole-in-one and Steve Stricker had seven birdies to brighten an otherwise dreary day at rainy Riviera Country Club and finish atop the leaderboard Friday at the Northern Trust Open.

Johnson’s 8-iron from 152 yards landed between the pin and the famous bunker in the middle of the green at No. 6, spinning back into the cup for an ace that put him in the lead for most of the afternoon. He had two holes left when play was halted by darkness.

Stricker, playing in a morning rain that never relented, chipped in for a birdie on the 18th and nearly made an ace on No. 4 when his hybrid from 230 yards lipped out. He shot a 6-under 65 and had the clubhouse lead.

“I’m very happy to be done with the round, to tell you the truth,” said Stricker, who was at 10-under 132. “It was pretty miserable out there today.”

Johnson also was at 10 under and was to return Saturday to complete his round.

PGA Tour rookie Alex Prugh (69), a former Washington Husky from Spokane, was tied for 21st place at 2-under 140. Prugh is seeking his third consecutive top-five finish.

Seattle native Fred Couples (72) was tied for 29th place.

Ryan Moore (70-74 — 144) of Puyallup had to wait until Saturday to learn whether he will make the cut. According to the PGA Tour Web site, players with scores of 144 and higher are projected to miss the cut.

Johnson and Stricker were three shots clear of Andres Romero, who had three holes remaining. Forty-one players did not finish the second round.

Phil Mickelson, trying to become the first player to win three consecutive years at Riviera, had a 66 and was tied for 11th at 4 under. Mickelson started the day in a tie for 83rd place.

Wet conditions made the performances of Johnson and Stricker more remarkable.

“Dustin Johnson is 11 under,” Paul Goydos said in amazement as he walked off the 11th tee. “That’s like being 47 under through three rounds at the (Bob) Hope.”

Ahead of him was Stephen Ames, bundled in rain gear and making light of the gloomy conditions.

“I don’t play golf for money. I play golf for fun,” said Ames, smiling. “And this is not fun.”

Johnson, who opened with a 64 for a one-shot lead, caught the brunt of the weather. Temperatures dipped into the 50s, and with the soaked conditions, some players couldn’t carry their tee shots much more than 225 yards.

“I don’t like it, but do I mind playing in it? No,” Johnson said. “Everyone has got to play in it. Hitting it a long way helps, too, because the course is by far the longest I’ve ever seen this course play.”

The forecast was for more rain Saturday.

“It’s tough to make a regular swing,” Stricker said. “You’ve got a lot of clothes on, you’re wet. It’s just not as easy swinging on a day like today compared to a 70-degree, sunny day.”

Other tournaments

• Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead in the Dubai Desert Classic. He had an 8-under 136 total.

England’s Lee Westwood (65), Wales’ Stephen Dodd (69) and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) were tied for second.

• Chris Kirk shot a 7-under 65 in the Moonah Classic for a share of the third-round lead with fellow American Jim Herman (75) in Fingal, Australia. The tournament is sanctioned by the Nationwide and Australasia tours. The leaders were at 9-under 207.

Jess Daley (76), a graduate of Kentwood High School, was tied for 49th at 218. Kyle Stanley (73-73 — 146) of Gig Harbor missed the cut by one shot.

Despite the problems that happened recently in Dubai, as well as the problems that Tiger Woods has been having, it seems that the Tiger Woods Golf Course is still coming. Not only that, but recent reports show that its on schedule as well.

The company that is developing the Tiger Woods Dubai golf course and luxury resort said that there are no plans at all to cut ties with the golfer despite his well documented marital problems. What Tiger Woods does in his own free time does not affect the fact that he is a great golfer and that this will be a great golf course.

The Tiger Woods Dubai golf course and luxury home complex will be completed as planned after being pushed months behind schedule by the Emirate’s property slump. At first, this golf course designed by Mr Woods himself was due to be finished by September 2009, but since that push back, the course has now remained on schedule. In fact, the company has already progressed as far as the eighth hole.

Dubai Properties Group Chief Executive, Officer Khalid Al Malik, said that they have not decided on a date of completion just yet. Nor have they delivered a market date for the golf course. However, the project is still ongoing.

Plans for the 55 million square foot Tiger Woods Dubai golf course does include 287 luxury villas and mansions. The golf course will also feature a boutique hotel and a top of the line clubhouse. Designs for the villas are being completed before construction starts. Overall, the aim is to make this golf course one of a kind to bring in people from all over the world

DUBAI — Overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand was joined by Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros and Lee Westwood of England in a four-way tie for the lead after Saturday’s third round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Seeking what would be the biggest win of his career in the Gulf region’s premier tournament, the 40-year-old former army paratrooper once again went bogey-free as he compiled a round of three-under 69 and at one stage pulled three shots clear of the field.

But as he parred his way steadily down the back nine, the big guns closed in with a barrage of birdies in the near-perfect playing conditions at the Emirates Golf Club.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland also stayed in contention with a 69 to stand at nine under, two shots off the pace with Edoardo Molinari of Italy (70) and Marcus Fraser of Australia (70) a further shot adrift.

Thongchai, who has found a new lease of life at 40 after overcoming severe back problems, led by one going into the third round and he moved into a three shot lead with birdies at the third, eighth and ninth.

But he played conservatively after that with nine straight pars challenging the others to come after him.

Four men successfully took up the challenge.

The big-hitting Quiros, tipped for the top by none other than Tom Watson, who played with him over the first two rounds, was first to reach the Thai ace at 11-under with four birdies down the back nine, including the last two holes, for a 67.

The Spaniard who is gearing up for his second tilt at the Masters in April, said that luck had played his part in his round.

“To play golf well, you have to be lucky and today I was lucky,” he said.

“On 17, I was trying to hit the green. I miss-hit and I was in the heavy rough and had about a 10-metres putt. I holed it. This is luck for me.”

European No.1 Westwood followed as he too went on the attack with birdies at 11, 13 and 15 for a 68.

The Englishman, who has risen to No.4 in the world and is the highest ranking player here said that he expected “a birdie-fest” on Sunday if the overcast, calm conditions stay the same.

“There are lots of good players up there,” he said.

“There’s so many people within three or four shots of the lead. I’ve even come back from six, seven, eight back, so I know what’s possible.”

Finally Thongchai’s playing partner, cigar-chomping Jimenez, made it a four-way tie, narrowly missing a 15-footer at the last that would have given him the outright lead. The Ryder Cup star settled for a 68.

Patience had been the key, he said, refusing to panic when it looked as though Thongchai was about to run away with the tournament.

“I told my caddie I have to keep my concentration, focus on the things that I am hitting well,” he said.

“Just wait for the birdies coming, they are coming. That puts me in contention with all of these new young guys for tomorrow,” said the just-turned 46-year-old.

Thongchai was not too unhappy with having let slip a three-stroke advantage saying that he felt he actually played better on the back nine than on the front nine.

Sunday’s finale would be a shoot-out between several players, he said, including himself.

“Lee (Westwood) he is playing so strong now, he hits it so far. “But everybody has a good chance for tomorrow.

“If I play well, if I hit the ball well, putt well, everything perfect I have a chance.

January 2 — William James (Bill) Powell, the only African-American to build, own, and operate a golf course, passed away December 31. Powell was 93.

Powell, recipient of the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009, worked hard to build diversity in golf. His daughter, Renee Powell was the second African-American to compete on the LPGA Tour.

Clearview Golf Club. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Powell returned home from World War II to open doors to those otherwise denied the opportunity to play golf on whites-only courses. He worked 18-hour days to support his family as he built Clearview Golf Club in North Canton, OH.

“I hope that I have created more awareness about what Clearview is all about,” Powell said in November following his Northern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame induction, according to the PGA of America. “We have had many people come to visit us, including some from Canada. They now know who we are. I watched on TV golf being played in Shanghai, China, and I do believe that the game of golf is the best vehicle to rid hate in the world.”

Powell quietly broke down racial and gender barriers by developing women’s and youth golf leagues on his course. He opened Clearview’s first nine holes in 1948 and added another nine in 1978.

America’s Course. Clearview, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and sports the nickname, “America’s Course,” is a place where “the only color that matters is the color of the greens,” Powell told the PGA of America.

With a love for golf that began at age nine, Powell was the first black person to compete in a junior event at Orchard Hill Country Club (now The Fairways Golf Club) in North Canton. He also participated in the first inter-racial collegiate golf match in U.S. history, when his Wilberforce University men’s golf team defeated Ohio Northern University at Lost Creek Country Club in Lima, OH, said the PGA.

Honor roll. Powell earned a slew of honors over the years, including induction in 2009 into the Northern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame. He and his late wife, Marcella, are the namesakes for the Tiger Woods Foundation’s William and Marcella Powell Scholarship.

First Tee. The First Tee, a program that teaches youngsters the game and values of golf, also recognizes Powell’s contributions to the game. The initiative has distributed more than 1,100 William J. Powell Scholarships so that kids may attend The First Tee Life Skills and Leadership Academies.

Thanks to Powell’s teaching and coaching, his daughter, Renee, competed on the LPGA Tour from 1967 to 1980 and later served as head pro at an English golf club.

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises will once again host its popular Silver Links golf programme on 12 diverse itineraries aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper in 2010.

The programme offers golf enthusiasts the chance to perfect their swing on 30 of the most beautiful and challenging courses in 15 countries and island destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Americas.

Steve Tucker, Silversea’s vice president of field sales for North America, said: “Our golf cruises are an excellent option for the affluent traveller looking to sharpen his or her game. Avid golfers of all levels can combine a luxury holiday with the chance to enjoy guided golf excursions and priority tee times at some of the world’s most celebrated links and fairways.”

The Silver Links voyages offer optional golfing excursions in multiple ports arranged and escorted by the ship’s golf professional. From the breathtaking Pacific scenery of the Cape Kidnappers Golf Club in Napier, to the gently rolling fairways at the elegant Fairmont Pierre Marques Golf Club in Acapulco, to the ancient dunes and pine groves at Zeebrugge’s Royal Zoute Golf Club, guests will have a chance to perfect their game at some of the world’s most challenging and revered championship courses.

The escorted, optional golfing excursions vary in price from course to course and include transfers to and from the select golf courses, pull or power-drive carts (where available), green and any applicable caddy fees. Should guests choose to leave their clubs at home, the finest Nike Golf clubs and golf essentials are available for rental or purchase. Golf clubs can be rented for as little as US$45 per day with multiple-day and equipment packages available.

On each of these exciting voyages rich in golf destinations, guests will also have the opportunity to advance their game aboard ship with the help of a PGA “Class A” certified golf professional, who is available to organise personalised instruction, specialty group clinics, demonstrations and even putting contests. While some group activities are complimentary, there is a fee for private lessons.

Golfers have the option to further hone their skills aboard ship with sophisticated split-screen swing analysis utilising the most advanced V1 digital coaching system, the same software selected by PGA.com as their preferred instructional technology. The cost for private swing analysis starts at just $30.

Guests aboard the Silver Links voyages will enjoy an all-inclusive shipboard ambiance featuring all ocean-view suites with butler service. Other highlights include complimentary beverages served throughout the ship — including fine wines, spirits and champagnes, in-suite bar and refrigerator stocked with each guest’s preferred beverage selections, open-seating dining, 24-hour complimentary room service, and fares that include all onboard gratuities.

Following is a sampling of the 2010 Silver Links voyages and golf courses:

– FAR EAST & SOUTH PACIFIC: Silver Whisper’s 3 January, 15-day cruise (#4001) from Auckland to Sydney with optional golf excursions to the Tauranga Golf Club; Cape Kidnappers Golf Club (Napier); Clearwater Golf Resort (Christchurch); Royal Hobart Golf Club; Royal Melbourne Golf Club; and Sydney’s Camden Lakeside Country Club. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $6,798 per person.

— CARIBBEAN, MEXICO & PANAMA CANAL: Silver Shadow’s 22 January, 16-day cruise (#3003) from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles with optional golf excursions to La Iguana Golf Club (Puntarenas); Fairmont Pierre Marques Golf Club (Acapulco); Club de Golf Marina Ixtapa (Zihuatanejo); Desert Course at Cabo del Sol Golf Resort (Cabo San Lucas); and San Diego’s Steele Canyon Golf Club. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $5,158 per person.

– MEDITERRANEAN: Silver Whisper’s 31 May, 12-day cruise (#4014) from Monte Carlo to Southampton with optional golf excursions to the Club de Golf Llavaneras (Barcelona); Club de Golf de Malaga; Penha Longa Golf Club (Lisbon); and St Malo’s Dinard Golf Club. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $5,798 per person.

– NORTHERN EUROPE & BALTIC: Silver Whisper’s 12 June, 11-day cruise (#4015) from Southampton to Stockholm with optional golf excursions to the Royal Zoute Golf Club (Zeebrugge); Estonian Golf and Country Club (Tallinn); and Helsinki Golf Club (Tali). Silver Savings cruise fares start at $5,118 per person.

– CANADA & NEW ENGLAND: Silver Whisper’s September 14, 10-day cruise (#4027) from New York to Montreal with optional golf excursions to the Newport National Golf Club; Franklin Park Golf Club (Boston); Glen Arbour Golf Club (Halifax); Bell Bay Golf Course (Sydney); Royal Quebec Golf Club (Quebec City); and Club de Golf de l’Ile de Montreal. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $4,118 per person.

– CANADA & NEW ENGLAND: Silver Whisper’s 14 October, 10-day cruise (#4030) from New York to Barbados with optional golf excursions to Port Royal Golf Club and Belmont Hills Golf Club (Hamilton); Palmas del Mar Golf Resort (San Juan); and Cedar Valley Golf Club in St John’s. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $3,278 per person.

All cruise fares listed above are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges and handling fees that can range from $150 to $475 per person on these sailings, depending on the itinerary. Silver Savings is a capacity-controlled programme and subject to availability.

For complete voyage details and the latest information on Silver Links cruises, visit www.silversea.com or click Silver Links .

Silversea Cruises is recognised as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper — and launching in December, Silver Spirit — all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the addition of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II, the company’s itineraries encompass all seven continents

Rock ’n’ Roll Is Back
The Malt Shop Memory Cruise, a four-night cruise sponsored by Carnival Cruise Lines and Sixthman, offers guests a journey to the birth of rock ‘n’ roll with live performances and themed events. The cruise, sailing aboard the Carnival Inspiration May 13–17, leaves from Tampa, Fla., and stops at Cozumel, Mexico. The voyage features Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Leslie Gore, the Original Drifters, the Platters and Lou Christie.

Quilting at Sea
Enjoy stunning fjords and charming countryside as you cruise from London to the Norwegian Fjords and Scotland on Holland America’s new Eurodam June 21–29. Quilting classes will be offered on the three scenic cruising days by five award-winning quilters. Highlights include a welcome aboard party; Marijke’s Quilt Shop onboard; shopping at quilt shops in ports; and visits to Bergen, Norway, and Invergordon, Scotland.

Golf Voyages
Silverseas Cruises will host its Silver Links golf program on 12 diverse itineraries offering golf enthusiasts an opportunity to golf in 15 countries and island destinations. Cruises include an 11-day Northern Europe and Baltic sailing June 12 from Southhampton, England, to Stockholm, Sweden; a 10-day Canada and New England cruise departing Sept. 14 from New York to Montreal; and a 10-day cruise sailing Oct. 14 from New York to Barbados.

Something for Everyone
Crystal Cruises offers more than two dozen cruises with a special interest focus. Subjects include wine and cheese; emerging artists; mind, body and spirit; golf; fashion and style; film and theater; jazz; big band; and the new science and technology cruise with guest expert lecturers focusing on the world’s latest scientific developments.

Tiger Woods, the world’s best golfer and a leading force in sports marketing, was injured in a car accident yesterday.

It was not immediately clear how serious his injuries were. A local official said later he had been released from hospital.

The Orlando Sentinel newspaper, citing the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), said Woods’ car struck a fire hydrant and a tree in Florida’s Isleworth community, near Orlando.

Woods, 33, was transported to a hospital in Ocoee in serious condition, the newspaper said, citing the FHP.
Woods is one of the world’s richest athletes and the biggest draw on the PGA tour.

He has triumphed 71 times on the tour and has won 14 majors in his glittering career. He returned to action in February this year after being sidelined for eight months due to reconstructive knee surgery and finished on top of the FedEx Cup standings for the season.

The Sentinel said the accident happened at about 2:25am as Woods pulled his Cadillac Escalade out of his driveway. The newspaper said the airbags in the vehicle did not deploy.

The FHP said the crash was under investigation and charges are pending, the newspaper reported.
Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation and arguably the best of all time. He trails his childhood idol Jack Nicklaus by just four majors in all-time standings. Reuters

Top of the leaderboard and set to storm the Dubai World Championship, we caught up with English golfer Lee Westwood between tee-offs in Shanghai.
Are you looking forward to coming out here?
I’m very much looking forward to it, I always like coming there. We’ve had a massive golf season now with the Race to Dubai as its finale. It’s a good end to any golf championship.
What do you make of the Order of Merit becoming the Race To Dubai, do you think it’s a good move?
Yeah, it’s really just the same as the Order of Merit, renamed with new branding. But I think it’s a great idea to put together a massive event like this at the end.

You managed to break your two-year wait for a tournament win last month at the Portugal Masters. How was that, and what fell into place in the event?
I hadn’t won for a while. I’d given myself lots of chances in those two years and not taken any so it was nice to take one of those chances. I was a little bit more patient in that game, I just let things happen - let other people make mistakes and wasn’t too aggressive at the wrong time.
Do you reckon anyone might sneak into that top 15 ranking in the Race To Dubai?
I haven’t properly looked through it, but I know it’s completely wide open. There are lots of people just outside this year that could easily get involved in that top 15. I just know there are three big events left and a lot of money to play for and I’m in the best position because I’m winning.
You said you always like coming out to Dubai, what’s special about the place?
There’s plenty to do there, the weather’s normally predictable and the facilities are very good - I usually go practicing at the Els Club as well while I’m there. Whenever we play a tournament in Dubai it always feels like a big tournament; everyone’s very enthusiastic about having the golfers and the tournament and it always gets in the big names.

The players
Lee Westwood ENG
Martin Kaymer GER
Rory Mcilroy NIR
Ross Fisher ENG
Paul Casey ENG
Oliver Wilson ENG
Geoff Ogilvy AUS
Angel Cabrera ARG
Simon Dyson ENG
Ian Poulter ENG
Sergio Garcia ESP
Soren Kjeldsen DEN
Francesco Molinari ITA
Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño SPA
Peter Hanson SWE