Kaymer Tops The European Tour Table
by Charles Boyer on Nov 28, 2010 2:00 PM EST
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PrintMartin Kaymer has topped the European Money List for 2010, after finishing 13th in the Dubai World Championship today while Grahame McDowell failed to finish 3rd or higher, which he needed to do in order to take away the top spot from Kaymer.
Bloomberg reports:I am very satisfied with my year,” Kaymer told reporters. “All of the goals that I set for myself, for my career, everything happened this year.”
Kaymer secured about 4.5 million euros ($6 million) in European Tour prize money and bonus this season. At age 25 years, 335 days, he becomes the youngest player to end a season as No. 1 since Ronan Rafferty of Ireland in 1989.
Kaymer’s four wins in 2010 included the U.S. PGA Championship, one of eight European Tour titles for the German in his career. McDowell also won a major this year -- the U.S. Open. Both players helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup.
Robert Karlsson was the tournament winner, as he levelled with third round leader Ian Poulter in regulation and then won on the second playoff hole.
The Year of Rules Gaffes had a final encore at the top of the leaderboard. During the playoff, when Poulter inadvertantly dropped his ball on his marker as he prepared to putt for par, thus incurring a rarely called one-stroke penalty. That extra stroke effectively took away any chance for Pouter to win the tournament, because it left Karlsson two strokes from four feet to secure the victory. The Swede only needed one, as he drained his putt moments later.
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OMP..this was a great event
to watch, with so many different players in the mix…I noticed two things, that really impressed me….First, Kaymer knew exactly where he stood as regards the money…You could see it on the back 9 with the decisions he made, vs the more “go for it” of the previous days play..cost him some shots too….Next, watching Karlsson play…he just kept coming…I saw no change in his game from the previous days….I think this is what got him the win….never changed his battle plan….This was the way Jack played…regardless of where he stood, he never changed his planning….Hogan was the same way…great golf all week…and wasn’t it great to SEE all the players getting their due rather than just 1 or 2…..STUB
so much for the overwhelming superiority of the RtD vs the FEC. A two man final tournament with #2’s chances being slim and none. (even if McDowell had won – he needed Kaymer to finish in the bottom 4 or 5) :-)
BUT ! It was a terrific tournament to watch.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
The RtD is only the old Order of merit re named for marketing reasons...
after the Fed Ex came into being. It is the old Volvo Masters, first won by Nick Faldo back in ‘88. It is superior to the Fed Ex mess that has been used as a tool to keep US tour players playing there a little bit longer. Even pushing the Ryder Cup into October, the Fed Ex is a desperate idea that needs to return to what it was. A Tour Championship than can be played after the Ryder Cup. As for who wins the RtD ( Order of merit ) it’s great but not the ultimate. Monty winning all those titles means little compared to a major. His first was won playing a lot more tournaments than his runner up opponent. Like Kuchar winning the PGA tour money title, yes, it means he has had a great year, but money titles are not the ultimate. Faldo won 2 money titles in Europe compared to Monty’s 8 but Monty was never even half the player Faldo was. Perspective is needed in these season ending events.
The RtD is a marketing plan for the country of Dubai – it’s not the Order of Merit. The Order of Merit was renamed “the money list” (which I hate – I love The Order of Merit title). The RtD is only 2 years old – the Order of Merit title was changed a couple of years earlier. There would be no Race to Dubai if Dubai hadn’t put up the additional bonus money for the winner. Just like the FEC – the only reason it exists is because Fed Ex put up the $35 million bonus pool money.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
The name has changed...
but not the way it is played. There used to be a pool bonus in the old Volvo masters as well. Different sponsors, same event. The Fed Ex reminds me of a cloned animal…something contrived and not quite right. yes, the RtD was invented as a counter measure to the Fed Ex Cup…but in name only. Money titles are only who has won the most…not always the best player either.
The huge bonus pool was not always there. The RtD wasn’t a “countermeasure” to the FEC, unless you’re thinking that the European Tour would have lost all kinds of members to the PGA Tour because of our “cloned animal” playoff series. (no matter how goofy it is) The RtD was a copy of the FEC – just with a different scoring system.
Admit it – there was no excitement for the RtD winner. It was over before the final tournament started. The fun was the tournament…just like it is with the FEC. Most people don’t care about the FEC. We don’t get the first dollar of that money. We just like having so many great players on the course at the end of the season.
If there wasn’t a huge bonus for winning the RtD, you wouldn’t see half of the Euro Tour guys you see in the last month of the season.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
The RtD winner is a season long event.
The event itself this week was what was exciting. Like i said before, the money winner is not that big a deal, except it does say that player had a very good year. The media and the fans that fall for the hype see that as the big deal. A one off event is better than the FEC that leaves players on the last event with no chance of winning it. That is a big reason why it is so flat…only a few can win it at the start of that final week. You admit it…the FEC needs to become one event, or, cut each week and start the new week from scratch. Faldo got a bonus as far back as 1992 for winning his 2nd order of merit. All that has changed is the amount.
Better check again – all of the 30 players in the Tour Championship / FEC final had a shot to win. Sure – some were wild mathematical chances – but they had a chance. In the RtD final, you had one guy. McDowell’s chances were slim and none. He had to win and have Kaymer finish in the bottom 5. The RtD title was over before the final started. Hmm – sounds like a couple of years ago with the FEC with Vijay – and they changed it up.
Why are you so worried about the money in the FEC ? As I keep saying – we don’t get the first dollar of all that money. What we DO get is 4 weeks with the top players on the golf course.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Only the media blow up the money titles.
They mean very little in the grand scheme of things. i didn’t care who won it to be honest, the tournament itself was what was exciting. The FEC had a lot of the players there…but it was not that exciting…it was flat because of the system. Viewed as a money title, you are right…it is boring with most of the field out of it. the FEC was the same. These days, no one needs crazy money to play the majors…it’s the glory that they play for…the money follows it. Yes, we do get top players for 4 more weeks…but it almost ruined the Ryder Cup doing it. It has to change.
Wait – the money isn’t important, so it’s ok to enjoy the RtD – but because the FEC has a goofy points system, somehow that diminishes the golf that’s being played ? Who was out of the FEC final field ? They had the top 30 on the points list. RtD had the top 60 on the money list. FEC started with 125 and whittled down to 30. How many guys outside the top 10 or 15 on the money list did you actually get to see during the tournament in Dubai ? No Tiger ? He was 68th on the money list – he’s not playing a Dubai styled final. Harrington ? 64th.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Not the RiD
the week itself..Kaymer walking down the 18th with his arms raised knowing he won the race meant little compared to the finish itself to me. Karlson and Poulter with the others breathing down their necks was the reason we watched it…not a race that was over after Thursday.
Ok – compare that to the FEC this year. Jim Furyk played his buns off and had to fight off some very good golfers down the stretch to not only win the FEC, he also won the Tour Championship. Kaymer can’t say that. He was 13th and off the course for almost 2 hours before the tournament ended.
The difference ? They had perfect weather in Dubai that added some extra sizzle – Atlanta had great weather for three days, then the skies opened on Sunday and made it a miserable trudge around a great golf course.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Credit for Furyk winning it
after he was DQed in the first tournament. I’m just saying it is flawed because he was allowed to do so.
allowed to do what ?
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Carry on
when he was DQed, he should have been for the 4 weeks. The reason is because you can miss 1 or 2 of them and still win. That’s daft. have the cut then start from zero again. That is how “playoffs” work. Or stop calling them playoffs.
No argument there. The FEC has been a linguistic nightmare since it started. Choosing the word “Playoffs” was a huge mistake. People hear playoffs and think “loser leaves”.
Just remember – there is no guarantee that Furyk was going to play well that week. He could have missed the cut and gotten the same zero points as he got with the DQ.
During the planning stages, they said they were going to model the FEC after the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship, where 12 drivers who have earned the most points run the last 10 races for that year’s championship title. The races all still have 43 cars, but the top guys are running a race within a race. But they didn’t follow through with that idea.
To make matters worse, they listened to the media and all their quacking – giving thier advice on how it should be done. Those “experts” whined and cried to get their way, but ended up dragging the process into the mud. It’s been a mess ever since – but I’ll still take the top guys on the golf course for four weeks.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
hey – the weather was fine over here in October – and just when should they have in in the UK to insure good weather ? You get freezing weather in July ! :-D
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
The Race To Dubai is the money list (or old OOM). The winner of the RTD is the one who earns the most money over the season. The Fedex is a four tournament event at the end of the season and is separate (although it does count) to the money list. Matt Kuchar won the money list. Jim Furyk won the Fedex, but was second to Kuchar in the money list. Two different concepts, albeit with the same aim in mind.
2 different concepts indeed..
It’s not the money the 2 put up..it’s the fact the Fed Ex is a silly “playoff” idea that can never work unless it was matchplay. That, or, have a cut each stage and start from scratch in the next one. Furyk would have been DQed from the start and couldn’t have won. Either way, the time of it should be after the RC/PC
Definitely. The RC this year was a case in point. It should have been played four weeks earlier in it’s original date and was almost ruined because of the Fedex and ate change. I don’t think that will happen again though. Or at least, I hope not.
by chip n'putt on Nov 29, 2010 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
Kuchar won the money title – not Furyk. The $10 million isn’t official money.
http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/?109
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
I would happily spend it officially. Ten million would change my life forever. For a lot of those guys, it’s just another large bonus.
Must be nice.
by Charles Boyer on Nov 29, 2010 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
don’t kid yourself – $10 is huge – even to Tiger and Phil. It will change Furyk’s life, if only to make him a little more secure for the next generations of Furyks. Don’t forget, once Uncle Sam gets his teeth into it, you’re looking at “only” 5.5 to 6.5 million….that’s a lot less in the skrimp bucket. :-D
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Change Furyks life ?
none of the future Furyks will have to work, if that’s the way they want it. Just how is his life going to change ? He already has all that money could buy.
ok – the Allistair Tate Open….on the snow covered fairways of England…tens of thousands in the galleries…right ? :-D
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
There’s always ice golf in Greenland too.
by Charles Boyer on Nov 29, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
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