Ewen Murray considers a disastrous weekend for some and looks ahead to the drama of Valderrama.
As the 2007 season moved towards its conclusion, there was drama all over the golfing world. There was joy, despair, disappointment and just about every emotion a pro golfer can go through at the weekend.
Let's start with Majorca. Twenty-five-year-old Frenchman Gregory Bourdy secured his maiden win on Tour with a superb display of controlled golf. Gregory was the 18th first-time winner in Europe this year, a new record. But whereas I take nothing away from Gregory, the real action came in the list immediately behind him.
Playing for your playing privileges is about the worst pressure you can face and many were involved in what can only be described as a round from hell.
Multi-winner on Tour, Jarmo Sandelin scraped in, but Liverpool's Lee Slattery came up £53.50 short of the required number. Doncaster's Ian Garbutt was £121.00 shy.
Both will look back over the course of their playing year and remember one shot that would have saved them. Both will be at San Roque for the qualifying school next month. That's a grim place to go to when you have regularly played the main Tour. I wish them well.
These tales of woe are offset by the joy for two players. Sam Little was languishing down in around 170th place in the merit list three weeks ago. A top 10 in Madrid gained him entry to the Portugal Masters where he finished 34th, and last week's runner-up place, the best of his career, moved him up to a lofty 76th position. Last month, Sam's wife presented him with twins, Natalie and Amelia. Right now for the Littles, life is as good as it gets.
Hull's Richard Finch was another to escape the trip to San Roque. Starting the week in 124th, his tied seventh finish moved him up 14 places to safety. I'm sure Sam and Richard will enjoy the days ahead, but when they are finished celebrating the great escape, they have to ask themselves some serious questions.
If they can play as well as they did last week under intense pressure, what has been going on during the other 25 or so events of the season? If they find the answer to that question, then they should never be in this position again.
Survival
During the final round at Pula, I watched the anxiety etched on the faces of those who were involved in the race for survival and remembered my pal, and now colleague, Mark Roe going through the same five years ago in Italy. Mark stood on the final green faced with a four-foot putt. Hole it and he had his card, miss it, and his life would have to take a different direction after many successful years on Tour.
He holed it and by finishing third was able to extend his career. Mark was in the
Golf Night studios on Sunday, and although I didn't hear him mentioning his experience, I can bet my life he was thinking about it. When you have been in that position, you never forget it.
Michael Lorenzo-Vera made it a remarkable French double by winning the Challenge Tour Grand Final at the San Domenico Golf Club in Italy. At just 22 years of age, Michael's win enabled him to take top spot in the rankings ensuring he will play in most events next year on the main Tour.
Another with a high-ranking will be the hugely talented Dutchman, Joost Luiten, and life begins at 40 for former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker, who is back on Tour after several years away. These are just three of the 20 players that have progressed to what is now a rich and prestigious Tour.
In Thailand, a brilliant final round of 65 was not quite enough for Laura Davies to win at Pattaya. What a diamond Laura has been for women's golf over the last two decades, and if this performance is anything to go by, there are more wins ahead for the Surrey golfer. Suzann Petterson hung on for her fifth victory of what is turning out to be a vintage year.
Just under 12 months ago, I wrote in this column about a "Filipino Seve". His name was Juvic Pagunsan. Juvic had just come second to Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara at the Hong Kong Open. He had played with a swashbuckling style that Seve would have approved of.
His swing was totally natural, and he propelled the ball around the Fanling course smiling along the way. Last Sunday, Lee Westwood eagled the last hole in Jakarta to pile the pressure on Pagunsan. His reply? An eagle of his own to take his first title on the Asian Tour.
This lad has one of the best swings and temperaments I've seen in years, and as we begin our "China Swing" in just over a week's time, I look forward to seeing him again. We will reintroduce him to you in Hong Kong, which has either side of it the HSBC in Shanghai, and the World Cup from Shenzeng. More on that next week.
Shoot-out
Now to the season-ending Volvo Masters which is celebrating its 20th anniversary at Valderrama this week. Ernie Els has a handsome lead at the top of the rankings, but this week will play in Singapore.
That leaves a shoot-out between defending Merit champion Padraig Harrington and England's Justin Rose. Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson still have a mathematical chance, but would need help from Justin and Padraig. Somehow, I don't think that will happen.
Open champion Harrington comes fresh off a win in Morocco having defeated Darren Clarke by three to take the Hassan 11 trophy. Playing with Clarke in the final group, Harrington began the final round with a six-shot lead, and at one time that lead was whittled down to two, but a steady finish added to this golden year Padraig is enjoying.
He is a model professional and through hard work and determination has become a brilliant golfer. In the last round there was a camaraderie between the two Irish players, Padraig perhaps realising how this was an important step forward for Clarke.
For players like Darren, they can only perform at their best when the adrenaline is flowing and they are in contention. Clarke will take much from this latest performance and this week tees up in Singapore alongside Els, Mickelson, Howell, Cabrera and other star names. It's a pity it clashes with the Volvo and only a late change of dates allowed this to happen.
For us on
Sky Sports, it's the grand finale of what has been a wonderful European Tour season. Will it be Padraig or Justin, or will there be a surprise like last week? The way things have gone of late, predictions have become extremely difficult. I look forward to your company from the "Augusta of Europe" for four action packed days.
