Golf Events / Dai Davies / 24 October 2007 /

Golf journalist Dai Davies muses on who has most to lose ahead of this week's Mallorca Open

We have all felt it, that fear in the pit of the stomach that brings near-paralysis of mind and body ... and that's only on the first tee of the monthly medal. Imagine, then, the state of mind of some 20 or so golfers who this week will be teeing it up in the Mallorca Classic, at Pula golf club, with their entire careers, their future livelihoods at stake.

Some golf professionals will tell you that the worst nerves they have ever felt have been manifested on the first tee of a Ryder Cup, but then these are the successful ones, the ones that have already ensured that even if they never played again it would not be a financial problem.

Others nominate final Qualifying School, which determines whether or not you even get onto the European tour or not as the moment they never want to experience again.

Yet others point to the first tee of a major championship as their worst golfing moment and indeed Trevor Homer, an excellent golfer in the 1970s who won the Amateur Championship twice and so qualified for the US Masters said the first tee at Augusta was the best laxative he'd ever experienced.

But at Pula this week most of the field will have something more than the first prize of €333,330 to play for. Some, the lucky ones, will be trying to ensure they finish in the top 15 of the Order of Merit, which will get them into the US Open next year. Equally, a few more will be aiming for the top 20, which will get them into the Open in 2008 and lower down the list - but still in the fortunate category - will be those trying to break into the top 60 so that they can compete in next week's Volvo Masters.

But it is down among those below the 116th place in the Order of Merit that the nerve ends will be jangling the loudest. That is the last finishing place that is absolutely certain to ensure that the holder of it is on the regular tour next year.

Due to complexities there is not the space to deal with, 117th and 118th might also get in, but for golfers as good as Jarmo Sandelin, a former Ryder Cup player, and Stephen Dodd, a current Wales World Cup representative, who are currently 119th and 120th - and for a dozen or so golfers below them - "might" is not a word they care to contemplate.

They will stand on the first tee acutely aware that their existence as a tour player is under dire threat and for once they will also be acutely aware of the money available at various stages for those who make the cut. There is €3,649 for 70th; €5,600 for 60th; €9,000 for 50th; €13,000 for 40th and 17,800 for 30th. Given that the difference between Alan McLean of Scotland, with €205,939, in 116th place, and Dodd in 120th is only €4,224 it's obvious that every single solitary shot can make a massive difference.

It is obvious, too, that it is best not to think about it--but just try putting that into practice.

The overwhelming favourite - trading pre-tournament at 5.5 to win - will be the world no. 10, Sergio Garcia, who, almost unbelievably, is now 27-years-old and still without a major championship to his name. He was undoubtedly unlucky this year in the Open at Carnoustie and could well make amends next year in any one of the four big tournaments.

But a win in front of his Spanish fans would help his season end on a happier note. His last three finishes in this event have been 1, 2 and 2, his second place last year being to Niclas Fasth, 18th in the world rankings, who is playing again and is developing into one of the world's most reliable players.

Graeme Storm, 16th in the Order of Merit, will have a real incentive to play well and get himself into that top 15 and Pablo Martin will want to reassure his new management team, IMG, that his win as an amateur in the European tour event, the Portugese Open, was no fluke.

Martin is currently 178th in the Order of Merit, not the best of starts to his professional career, especially compared to Rory McIlroy, who, while not playing in Mallorca, has soared to 94th in the Order after only four events as a professional.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: