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Rory McIlroy is in pole position as he aims to secure his maiden Order of Merit title at the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The 20-year-old is the youngest player in the 60-man field made up of the leading money winners on the European Tour this year, but his impressive form makes him the 10-1 favourite to land the top prize with Extrabet. He was runner-up at last week’s Hong Kong Open. He also won in Dubai at the start of February at the Dubai Desert Classic – his first and only professional win. He is 15-8 for a top-five place with Extrabet and a decent top-10 shout at 10-11 also with the same firm, having enjoyed the most top-10 finishes on the Tour this year.
Three other players could take the Order of Merit honours for 2009, with Lee Westwood, who held the title back in 2000, currently second. The world No. 13 won in Portugal last month, and is a 16-1 shot with various bookmakers to win.
Martin Kaymer is third at present and if any of the top three win in Dubai they will be crowned Order of Merit winners. The German is 14-1 to take the top prize with various firms, and has won twice this year in consecutive weeks in July. Ross Fisher is the fourth man who could snatch the prestigious prize, although he’d need McIlroy and Westwood to have a few days out in the desert. Fisher won the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain at the start of the month, and is offered at 20-1 with Tote Sport and Ladbrokes. He’s also 3-1 to finish in the top five with Bet Fred.
Paddy Power is also offering 9-4 that one of the ‘big four’ will win – 2-7 one of the rest of the field.
A clutch of decent shouts are offered at 20s including Henrik Stenson (Bet365, Stan James and Ladbrokes), Padraig Harrington (Ladbrokes) and Sergio Garcia (various). Retief Goosen is 25-1, Justin Rose 30-1 with Boylesports and Adam Scott 33-1. Rose is also 7-1 to be top Englishman (Stan James).
Simon Dyson is second in the Ryder Cup standings, and won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the start of October. He is 45-1 with Tote Sport and Extrabet, along with Luke Donald (Boylesports).
Ian Poulter in confident mood after a recent tournament win in Singapore at the start of the month, and is 22-1 to clinch top billing (various). He is also 9-2 to be placed.
Ernie Els was second to Phil Mickelson in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shangai recently – having fired a course record 63 in his final round. He is at 16s (various). Incidentally McIlroy was fourth, the highest-placed European at that event.
Others to look out for include Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, who last week claimed the Hong Kong Open. He is 100-1 with Extrabet and 18-1 with Totesport and Extrabet to be placed. He’s also offered at 70-1 with Stan James to lead after the first round – - he was third at that stage last week.
Popular Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez is 66s with Sporting Bet and Ladbrokes having shown some improved form in Hong Kong. He is also 18-1 with Paddy Power to be top continental in the field.
Chris Wood, at 21 the second youngest in the field behind McIlroy, is 125-1 with Extrabet and 15-8 to be the best of the three debutants, that with Sky Bet.
Other big outsiders? Nick Dougherty is 200-1 with Extrabet but has won on tour this year, while rank outsiders are Thomas Aitken and Robert Rock at 300-1 with Extrabet.
Yet without a tournament win, would Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson be worth a punt at 25-1 with Stan James to be the top GB & Ireland player?
Ones to look out for include the nationality of the winner – a Rest of the World champion is 3-1 with Sky Bet and William Hill. Fifteen of the field count towards this, which includes some decent talent. The chances of a play-off? Boylesports and Stan James are offering 5-2.
