Irish quartet begin Masters bid to reign in Spain
The tradition is for the elite field of 54 to go out in reverse order to their placings in the order of merit. With South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who came first and second, both absent then the last match out today consists of Padraig Harrington (third) and Miguel-Angel Jimenez. Furthermore, Graeme McDowell (sixth) partners Frenchman Thomas Levet in the second-last pairing and they in turn are preceded by Darren Clarke (seventh) and Lee Westwood.
Yesterday’s pro-am was played in heavy rain which has softened up the course, meaning it will play to its full length of 6,952 yards. The weather forecast for the rest of the event is a lot more favourable and there is every prospect of a great battle for the handsome first prize of €625,000.
The big home hope, Sergio Garcia, is the bookmakers’ favourite but is well aware that with the cream of European golf in the field, including all 12 Ryder Cup players, the opposition could hardly be keener.
As always, there’s a big band of Irish people in these parts and all will be hoping to see at least one of the quartet mount a serious challenge.
Where consistency is concerned, there’s hardly any need to look beyond the ever-improving Portrush man Graeme McDowell, who has been figuring close to the leaderboard almost every week since winning the Italian Open in April.
Pádraig Harrington also won once on Tour, in the German Masters the week before the Ryder Cup, but there’s been a drought so far for both Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.
Harrington and Clarke have both won this title, but at Montecastillo near Jerez, whereas the only Irish champion at Valderrama was Ronan Rafferty in 1989. Harrington’s love-hate relationship with Valderrama reached a nadir in 2002 when he was battling Goosen for the order of merit title.
They were paired together on the opening day, when Harrington’s approach to the first hole came up on the apron of the green. However, believing he was on the putting surface, he picked up his ball only to immediately realise his mistake. It cost him two shots and he was never subsequently a threat to the South African.
“I’ve had both of my eyes lasered since, so there shouldn’t be any repeat,” he laughed.
“But winning the Volvo Masters over this course would be huge for me. I have found it very tough over the years. The greens are great and should suit me but it’s a course that suits the straight hitters. They win here. There’s hardly a hole where you can really open your shoulders.
“These are easily the narrowest fairways we play all year. You learn more about the course every time you come here. There are certain shots you don’t take on. Take the par 5 17th with the lake in front, the guys who lay up probably do better than those who take it on. But the majority will still go for it if it makes any sense at all.”
Harrington sets new goals every season and winning the order of merit has been high among them for several years. No matter what happens this week, he cannot overtake Els, but victory would push him into second place ahead of Goosen. While stressing that that would mean little to him, he also quipped that he wouldn’t be “chasing around telling everybody I finished runner-up yet again” - a rueful comment on the 24 second-place finishes in his professional career!
For Colin Montgomerie, Valderrama is a stark reminder that his most recent “win” in Europe came here two years ago.
Even then he shared the trophy with Bernhard Langer after a final round during which there were murmurings that he should have called a penalty shot on himself on the 10th green, when his ball may have moved at address. He was more than a little surprised to learn that this success, and another in 1993, make him the only player in the field this week to have won the Volvo Masters at Valderrama.
“I like it here, it’s a great golf course,” he said.
“We’ve come to expect it to be in fantastic condition and it is just that this year. The greens have more substance. They are firmer, quicker, even with the rain we’ve had, and will set up another great finale to our European season. It’s great that all 12 of the Ryder Cup team are here. This tournament is not devalued because the defending champion (Fredrik Jacobson) and order of merit winner (Els) are not playing. I’m sure if the leader of the order of merit was European, he would be here. The order of merit has a less European feel than it had. We in Europe are a more international tour now and the last few winners of the order of merit prove that.”
With the dazzling dozen lined up here over the next four days, it should be some tournament.
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