A £1 bet, struck in New York on August 21st, was paid over by Darren Clarke to Lee Westwood yesterday when the Englishman swept to a handsome triumph as leader of the European Order of Merit. As much as £242,161 eventually separated these friends and rivals after Westwood had finished runner-up to Canada's Mike Weir in the American Express Championship.
Marking the end of the Colin Montgomerie era, Clarke, who had watched a dramatic climax unfold on the big screen in the public area of the course, was gracious in his acceptance of defeat, having come here with a lead of £63,000. "Of course I'm disappointed, but Lee deserved it for his consistency in winning six tournament this year," he said afterwards.
Compensation for Clarke, whose final 70 earned him a share of 17th place, was a cheque for £38,835. But Padraig Harrington caused quite a surprise, not least to himself, by claiming a share of fifth place for a handsome reward of £108,840, having shot a closing 70 for 281 in the company of Westwood.
"I can't be happy about other players' misfortunes," said Harrington, with all the conviction he could muster. "But I'm pleased with the way I battled for my score and it was a nice bonus to see the leaderboard at the end." As for the Merit title, he said: "It's a pity that Darren, as an Irishman, didn't do it but Westwood probably deserved it on balance, for his consistency through the year."
Harrington has withdrawn from this week's Johnnie Walker tournament in Thailand and from the Austalian Open next week. In fact he will be playing only two events over the next 13 weeks - the World Cup in Argentina next month and the Andersen Consulting in Melbourne in the New Year.
Whenever Ireland's only British Open winner, Fred Daly, was approached by a left-hander for a golf lesson, he would remark caustically: "I don't teach deformed golfers." The redoubtable Fred might have changed his mind, however, after watching the impressive skills of Weir, who shot a remarkably solid 69 for 277 and a two-stroke victory.
"It feels fantastic," he said afterwards, "particularly with so many players having chances to win. Winning a World Championship is huge, especially in this quality of field. And to beat Tiger. . . . That's a great feeling because he's far and away the best player in the game right now."
For his part, Woods was forced to accept that a lean day with the blade had deprived him of a coveted target of breaking $10 million in earnings for the year. He also had the chance of becoming the first player since Sam Snead in 1951 to win 10 tournaments in a US Tour season.
And what of his latest travail at the 17th? "Every ball I've hit in the water there has been a good shot," he insisted. "It's not a very well designed hole and if you just walk around the bank, the proof is there by the number of balls in the water."
Westwood had different problems on this notorious par five. After blocking his drive into trees on the right, he seemed to be heading for a seven, possibly more, when he took two club-lengths' relief. But it transpired that he had gained a free drop because his ball landed in a stone-filled drain, albeit only two yards from the course boundary.
In the event, the Englishman attempted a punched three-iron second shot which caught a branch; then a seven iron went into rough on the left before he played a majestic nine-iron of 160 yards to 20 feet from the pin. A two-putt bogey six felt like a birdie. By that stage, he was in the sort of position Weir would be in a short time later in that he could afford a bogey at the last. But typically, he made a par.
"The turning point was making a bogey at the 14th," he said. "Up to that point I had been trying to win the tournament but from then on, the Order of Merit was foremost in my mind.
"I feel very drained emotionally. I was more nervous on the final green that I have ever been when winning a tournament." He went on: "Darren came to me at the recorder's and paid over the £1. He was very gracious about the whole thing, like a real friend.
"I see this as a reward for consistency (he won five Order of Merit tournaments this year along with the World Matchplay at Wentworth last month). On the 17th, someone was looking down on me. It was probably the best six I have ever made in my life."
Clarke said: "It slipped away from me when I shot that 74 on Saturday. I gave myself the chance coming here but I'm afraid Lee simply played too well. Still, second in the Order of Merit can't be all that bad." No indeed. Nor can the fact that another Irishman, Harrington, finished only five places further back.
