• Golfing trio set for order of merit showdown


    28 October 2008

    Robert Karlsson will attempt to become Sweden's first Order of Merit winner when the Tour finale Volvo Masters begins at Valderrama on Thursday.

    Karlsson is in pole position, having accumulated 12 top-10 finishes and won back-to-back tournaments this season.

    Double major winner Padraig Harrington is second in the money list, £230,312 behind, and needs the £562,485 first prize or second place to have a chance.

    Lee Westwood, winner of the 2000 Order of Merit, trails Karlsson by £361,318.

    Should Westwood finish second this week he would scoop "only" £374,990 so Karlsson would have to finish almost last to be overhauled by the Englishman.

    But colourful Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez's hopes of a maiden Order of Merit in the autumn of his career are even more remote.

    The 44-year-old is £523,968 behind Karlsson so would have to win and hope that the Swede finishes outside the top-20.

    Harrington is well aware of his task this week and said: "I've got to go out there and try and win the tournament, and there are two bonuses with that.

    "If I win the tournament, I win the Order of Merit so that's what's in my mind for the week.

    "Robert has played great all year. I think he's been very motivated on working on the right things the last couple of years and really has brought his game to a new level. If he wins on Sunday, he thoroughly deserves it.

    "Robert has performed more consistently in Europe than I have throughout the year, so consistency-wise, and that's what an Order of Merit is, he probably deserves it.

    "But that doesn't mean he gets it. We have to wait until Sunday to sort that out."

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