Karlsson: birdies first play-off hole to beat Fisher and Kaymer

It was not to be and as the resulting play-off was lost, I felt for them as they ambled back to the clubhouse, but their togetherness gave us one of the images of the year.

Ewen Murray
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When the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship began its life just after the turn of the Century, many said it would fail and the system of professionals playing with amateurs was flawed. Well in the last seven years, it has turned out to be an outstanding success and last week's event was probably the best.

It resulted in a three way play-off involving the form player and two we will hear much about in the years ahead.

Robert Karlsson has always been a model professional and I have no doubts the best of him is yet to come. He starred for our Ryder Cup team in Valhalla and his play this season has been as brilliant as it has been consistent.

He has that gift of calmness under pressure and has the ability to forget things that go against him, instead focussing on what lies ahead. He also has a fine bagman in one handicap golfer, Gareth Lord.

Since they joined forces, Karlsson has enjoyed a golden period in his career and I would expect Robert to challenge for majors and win at least one during the next five years.

In Martin Kaymer, we have part of the future of the Tour. Already two wins under his belt before the Dunhill, Kaymer has the same temperament as Karlsson and with a better putting technique, which I'm sure he will develop in the months ahead, this 23-year-old from Dusseldorf will achieve much in his chosen career.

One should never have favourites when sitting in the commentary booth, but I was hoping Martin would have closed the deal at St. Andrews on Sunday.

Standing on the 18th green, he had a ten footer to win. The cameras cut to his playing partner brother Phil and their dad who was caddying for him. Only months ago, they had lost their mum and wife at too young an age.

It was not to be and as the resulting play-off was lost, I felt for them as they ambled back to the clubhouse, but their togetherness gave us one of the images of the year.

The third member of that play-off has impressed me greatly during the past couple of seasons.

Ross Fisher has turned out to be a superb golfer and his alliance with short game expert, Golf Night's Mark Roe has made him a more complete player.

He is one of the best drivers of a golf ball on tour and his studious mind is one of his strengths. Over the past two years, he has had the odd hiccup combined with two wins and I see him as one of our future stars.

When the dust settled on the Dunhill, Ross and his caddie will be disappointed with their decision to take the driver at the 73rd hole. I could not believe my eyes when they made that choice. He is one of the games longest hitters, so it came as no surprise when the ball hurtled into the famed Swilken Burn.

Before you become the finished article, you have to make mistakes like that, but I know he will learn from it. Its been a great year for him getting married and this week he takes delivery of a gleaming new Lambourgini sports car. He deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labours and I look forward to following his career with interest.

Suggestion

Midgeley Taylor wrote in last week re the Alfred Dunhill Links and suggested one of our commentary team could walk round with an amateur and help him with course management.

Midgeley, if any pro walked round with an amateur, I can assure you he would knock a few shots off their score. It's not just the amateurs, if we had been beside Ross Fisher last Sunday, we would have hidden his driver at the first play-off hole!! Good idea, maybe we can organise that for next year.

Malcolm Speight and Steven Standage, thank you for your kind words and to all of you who enjoyed our coverage of the Ryder Cup and in general our European Tour coverage.

Steven wanted to know about the new Castle Course at St Andrews. Steven, I had a look at that last week and my reports are more than favourable. Designed by David Kidd, it is in many ways like Kingsbarns with considerable changes in elevation on the putting surfaces and stunning sea views. It compliments the collection of courses around St Andrews and will prove to be extremely popular.

Nice to get email from abroad and to Lee Calderwood, we look forward to seeing you at the South African events in December and January. The selection process has worked well for our Ryder Cup side in past years and my thoughts are that we should continue with that process. Good to see South Africa will feature prominently in the new European Tour schedule announced at the beginning of the week.

Future is bright

53 events in next years calendar and the possibility of having the likes of Kim, Mickelson, Villegas and John Daly as members of the European Tour. These are exciting times for Executive Director, George O'Grady, who along with Ken Schofield had the vision to take our tour to the rest of the world. The "Race to Dubai" has caught the imagination of many and the European Tour is about to step into a new era.

Madrid is the venue this week and for many at the wrong end of the order of merit, a chance to confirm their playing privileges for 2009 without a visit to the qualifying school. It's a horrible pressure but one they must embrace and conquer.

I had another birthday this week and having firmly entered the back nine of life, I am going to put the feet up after a hectic few months. Next week is the Portugal Masters from Villamoura and there will be many agendas there.

Top 15 of the order of merit to get into next years majors, some trying to win enough to stay on tour and some trying to get into the final Volvo Masters at Valderamma etc. The battle to become European number one enters its closing stages and the likely winner looks like it will come from Karlsson, Harrington or Westwood.

All good stuff, enjoy Madrid.