The Race to Dubai Trophy: Unfortunate Symbolism

After watching Lee Westwood's dominating final round at the Dubai World Championship, shooting a 64 to finish at 23 under par, I watched the trophy presentation, and noticed some unfortunate symbolism in one of the trophies handed to Westwood.

David Cannon/Getty Images

I like the sceptor - very cool -  but the big trophy was in the shape of an oil derrick with a golfer on top.  Pretty ironic considering that the country of Dubai has put the oil trade in the rear view mirror in order to become a worldwide tourist destination - a decision that isn't exactly working well for them, thanks to the economy.

Oh well (no pun intended) they hosted a terrific tournament and we got to watch some excellent golf, even if there were members of the media who tried to rip the course and tournament by railing on an unfinished clubhouse and unfiinshed houses lining the course.  Last time I checked, neither of those had anything to do with anything between the ropes.  You can pick on the low scores and the wide resort course fairways, and say that it isn't a course to challenge some of the best golfers in the world...but they were all playing the same course, and Westwood showed the field and the European Tour that he was #1 in 2009.

Now go work on that trophy.