Golf:Australian Richard Green has a final chance to qualify for the coming Masters this week but he needs an awful lot of help from an awful lot of people.
First of all the 40-year-old left-hander has to win the Andalucian Open in Malaga, as South African Louis Oosthuizen did last March, to climb into the world’s top 50 and earn a place at Augusta.
But even if he lifts the trophy on Sunday, Green would then have to wait to see what happens at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.
A number of players there could deny him a second Masters appearance, among them Italian teenager Matteo Manassero. His hopes of returning a year after he made the cut as British Amateur champion depend on him finishing in the top 20 at Bay Hill - and possibly a lot higher.
Dane Thomas Bjorn, who won the Qatar Masters last month and then knocked Tiger Woods out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play, would also have had an opportunity in Malaga of making it to Augusta, but a family illness led to him pulling out of the event.
Oosthuizen was another withdrawal because of a virus that has spread from his eye to his mouth - the British Open champion hopes to return to action in Houston next week - and that leaves only two members of the world’s current top 50 in the field.
They are 21st-ranked Alvaro Quiros and fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who doubles up as tournament promoter and admits that it makes life harder for him.
“It has been impossible to concentrate and practise for the last three months - too many phone calls and meetings, trying to find sponsors in a difficult financial climate,” said the 47-year-old.
“The most difficult part is to do so many things around the event - the media requirements, dinners, meetings with sponsors, politicians, making the players welcome.
“My mind tends to be all over the place and it comes as a relief when you get onto the first tee and you can then focus on your game.
“I am what I am thanks to golf and this is the way of giving back to Andalucia what I have achieved in 23 years on the European Tour.
“Golf in Andalucia is much more than just a sport - it has become an industry and, although we are going through difficult times, it generates many employees.”
Jimenez is one of only seven golfers to earn more than €17million on the circuit, and two of the six ahead of him are also playing.
Colin Montgomerie’s €23million places him second to Ernie Els (€25m) on the all-time list, while Darren Clarke has banked just over €18million.
There a seven-strong Irish contingent competing in Malaga this week; Damien McGrane, Shane Lowry, Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley.
