Order of Merit / Bill Elliott / 29 September 2008 / Leave a comment

Bill Elliott believes the last ever Order of Merit tussle deserves a grandstand finish with Dubai looming in 2009.

The Ryder Cup may be over but the race to be anointed Europe's top golfer for 2008 is still very much on. Is this still a title that means very much? You bet your sweet life it is. Apart from the prestige and general clubhouse bragging rights there is the little matter of contract bonuses that fall the eventual winner's way.

The other thing worth pointing out is that this is the last such title to be decided. Next year sees the Race To Dubai begin with everything concentrated on the final event, a tournament worth many millions and one that is scheduled for, that's right, Dubai.

That's for then, for now the congestion towards the top of the present Order of Merit promises much. Certainly the next several weeks should see a flurry of activity as the top half-dozen jostle for position. Padraig Harrington ([2.04] to back) leads the way of course but Lee Westwood's runner-up spot at The Belfry at the weekend has pulled Worksop's most famous son ([3.3] to win the Order of Merit) to within a couple of top-10 finishes of the Irishman.

And still in with a serious chance are Robert Karlsson ([9.0]), Miguel-Angel Jimenez ([12.0]), Henrik Stenson ([17.5]) and even Graeme McDowell ([65.0]).

Big bucks are on offer this weekend in Scotland during the Alfred Dunhill - Harrington traditionally does well at St Andrews - and there are then three more tournaments before we get to the season ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama.

The Masters has been the climax of the European season for over 20 years now but this is the final trumpet call of a once great event - Dubai obliterates it next year - and so for those of us who have enjoyed the golf at this fabulous Costa del Sol course it will be pleasing if the No.1 spot is still up for grabs when the action starts there in just over a month's time.

With just 650,000 euros covering the top six anything is possible although the smart money would suggest this is now almost certain to be a tussle between Harrington, Westwood and Karlsson. Given Karlsson's impressive consistency the tall Swede might just be the way to go.

Everything, however, depends on how many of these final events the stars choose to play. Not everyone thinks the top golfer in Europe tag is worth concentrating on. Two years ago, for example, Ernie Els infamously told us that he would not be playing at Valderrama because it was "wheelbarrow" time. By this the big man meant that he was off to schlep around the Far East picking up shedloads of appearance money.

He took a lot of sharp stick for his honesty but it was this sort of attitude that encouraged the European Tour to set up what has turned out to be the Race to Dubai. With 10million US dollars on offer next year the attraction of Europe to the world's top players has now increased dramatically.

This is why players like Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh - maybe even Tiger himself despite what his people claim to date - are contemplating joining the Tour. Much will depend on what the Players' Committee decides when they meet this weekend with regard to the number of events a member must play to keep his status. At present this is 11 but there is a move to increase this to at least 13, a number that might put off the big boys.

We'll see. Meanwhile Europe's big boys are jostling for that top spot. Apart from anything else this should guarantee some real focus from them between now and the end. It'll be good to see.