Battle for Order of Merit resumes

THE battle for top spot on the European Tour order of merit resumes this week having been largely in abeyance for the past six weeks or so as the leading protagonists concentrated on the FedEx Trophy play-offs in the US followed by the Seve Trophy at the Heritage club over the weekend.

Last year’s order of merit champion Pádraig Harrington leads the way at present with a total of 2,138,078 points, a handy enough 326,483 ahead of his closest rival Justin Rose.

However, with something like €15 million on offer in prize money in forthcoming tournaments such as this week’s Dunhill Links at St Andrews, the HSBC World Championship at Wentworth, the new Portuguese Masters at Vilamoura and the season-ending Volvo Masters, among others, looming on the horizon, the potential for change is considerable.