EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS:WITH ONLY five events left on what the European Tour grandly calls its "international schedule", post-Ryder Cup attention has turned to what has become perhaps the most neglected and meaningless silverware in professional golf, the Vardon Trophy awarded to Europe's leading money-winner.
Going into this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, as many as half a dozen men harbour hopes ranging from realistic to remote, among them Pádraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Robert Karlsson and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
However, while the record books may say by way of example that Justin Rose emerged as Europe's number one in 2007, the harsh reality is Tiger Woods, as he has done routinely almost every year since he turned professional, actually won more money on the European circuit than anyone else.
Only the American's reluctance to play the required number of events, and so become eligible for European Tour membership, allows others to grab what tarnished glory is available.
So, while the major-less Colin Montgomerie may point to his eight Order of Merit titles with justifiable pride, it is a sad fact of life that, while they may publicly mouth the expected platitudes, none of the game's very biggest stars make any sort of real effort to emulate the Scot.
Indeed, strong rumour has it that the former British Open and US Open champion South African Ernie Els has yet to notice his brace of Vardon wins in 2003 and 2004. Still, with Woods sidelined since his US Open victory in June, the chase for what will be the final Order of Merit title - the new "Race for Dubai" takes over next season - is not without interest.
Currently leading the way is the British Open and USPGA champion Harrington, but with a bloated prize fund on offer in Scotland - €547,889 to the winner - his edge is by no means decisive.
Depending, of course, on the Irishman's play in an event he has already won twice, any of his three closest pursuers, Westwood, Karlsson and Jimenez, could find themselves atop the money list come Sunday night.
"I'm trying a bit harder this week," admits Harrington, a qualified accountant who, as you would expect, has exactly what he has to do all figured out.
"I know this is a good chance for me. I've only got two tournaments left, this and the Volvo Masters. I think I've got to play really well in one of them in order to win this Order of Merit.
"And if I win one of them, the title is almost guaranteed."
Winning will be far from easy, however. As well as nine other members of the recently beaten European Ryder Cup squad - only Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter are missing - Els, the defending champion Nick Dougherty and three Scottish past champions in Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher, all familiar with the vagaries of seaside play, are gathered at the Home of Golf.
Els may be nicknamed the "Big Easy" but he was not about to take it easy on himself yesterday as he reflected on his career. "Not winning a major since 2002 doesn't sit well with me," said Els who claimed the last of his three major titles in the British Open Championship at Muirfield six years ago. Els labelled some of his play this year as "clueless".
"This year I had a very bad US Masters and missed the cut there, the US Open I hit the ball as good as I have all year but I was clueless on the greens." However, he insists that he is back on track and keen to reproduce the form which has earned him more than 50 tournament victories worldwide. It is safe to say, though, that Els and other star faces will not attract the most attention.
Even wearing waterproofs and woolly hats, the film stars Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant and Dougray Scott, along with retired sporting figures such as Johan Cruyff, Ian Botham, Shane Warne, Steve Redgrave and Franz Klammer, will be recognisable to a wider audience than is normally to be found out on the links.
Guardian Service
Dunhill Links Championship
Course:St Andrews (7,279 yards, par 72); Carnoustie (7,412 yards, par 72) and Kingsbarn (7,106 yards, par 72).
Prizemoney:€3.3 million, €547,889 for the winner.
Field:168.
Defending champion:Nick Dougherty who defeated Justin Rose by two.
Other course winners teeing off:Pádraig Harrington (twice), Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher, Lee Westwood.
Format:Pro-am for first three days with one round each on the three courses. Final round at St Andrews for 60 professionals (plus ties) who make the 54-hole cut and top 20 amateurs.
On TV:All four days are live on Sky, starting at 1.30pm today.
Weather:Expect chilly weather for all four days. Sunny except on Saturday when it could be cloudy and wet.
