Europeans geared up for finale

Four members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team will do battle for the Order of Merit title in the season-ending Volvo Masters which gets under way on Thursday.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson is in pole position to end the year as European number one for the first time, but three of his Valhalla team-mates can still lift the Harry Vardon Trophy at Valderrama.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, winner of back-to-back majors in the Open Championship and USPGA Championship this season, lies second on the money list as he seeks to regain the title he won in 2006.

Third in the standings is Lee Westwood, who won the title in 2000 to end Colin Montgomerie’s seven-year reign, while fourth placed Miguel Angel Jimenez still has an outside chance of landing his first Order of Merit title.

But Karlsson’s rivals face a tough task to overhaul the 39-year-old, who has enjoyed an amazingly consistent season around the world.

Karlsson, looking to become the first Swedish golfer to top the Order of Merit, has accumulated 12 top-10 finishes and also claimed back-to-back victories in the Mercedes-Benz Championship and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship either side of his second Ryder Cup appearance in Kentucky.

His performances in the major championships were also second only to Harrington, with eighth in the Masters, fourth in the US Open, seventh in the Open Championship and 20th in the USPGA Championship helping him amass more than €2.49m in prize money.

Even with his two major titles, Harrington finds himself €287,452 behind Karlsson in the money list, and needs to finish first or second at Valderrama - a course he is not a particular fan of – to have a chance.

Even winning the Volvo Masters would not be enough for Harrington if Karlsson were to finish second.

Westwood faces an even tougher task as he trails by €450,961, and even the second prize of €467,901 would need Karlsson to almost finish last.

Jimenez is €653,792 behind Karlsson and has to win the €701,852 first prize and also hope Karlsson finishes outside the top 20.

Other issues at stake include finalising the top 15 on the Order of Merit who will secure a place in next year’s US Open at Bethpage in New York, while the top 30 also qualify for the Open at Turnberry.

Justin Rose failed to qualify for Valderrama from the Order of Merit but returns as defending champion in a 57-strong field.

“To be number one on the Order of Merit as I was last year, and to follow in the footsteps of so many great players, is an awesome feeling,” said Rose, who beat Soren Kjeldsen and Simon Dyson on the second hole of a play-off 12 months ago.

“It was huge for me to receive the Harry Vardon Trophy. It’s a season-long challenge that tests all your skills and demands consistency.

“Obviously I can’t win the Order of Merit this time but the Volvo Masters is a huge tournament to win too and I’d love to make history by becoming the first player to successfully defend the crown.”