Rory McIlroy has been all but handed the European No. 1 title with his five nearest rivals electing not to contest two of the three closing Race to Dubai events.
The five – Sweden’s Peter Hanson (second on the money list) and the England pair of Justin Rose (third) and Ian Poulter (fourth) along with South African duo of Branden Grace (fifth) and Ernie Els (sixth) – have elected not to contest the next week’s Barclays Singapore Open and the following week’s UBS Hong Kong Open.
Rory McIlroy virtually gifted the 2012 European No. 1 title after his five nearest Race to Dubai elect not to contest two of the last three events. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Hanson remains in second place on the Race to Dubai and Euro 764,776 behind McIlroy after finishing well behind Poulter in yesterday’s (SUN) concluding WGC – HSBC Champions.
Poulter moved from 13th to fourth and Euro 940,977 adrift of McIlroy in coming from four strokes back to capture a second WGC title by two strokes with a second straight 65 on the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills in Shenzhen.
And with his 15th victory worldwide, Poulter is now eyeing a first Major success starting next April at Augusta.
Organisers of this week’s $6m co-sanctioned Barclays Singapore Open were holding an invitation for Hanson after Dubliner Peter Lawrie, who was among eight players initially afforded invitations, elected not to travel to the island nation.
However Hanson, who finished well down in 24th in Shenzhen, has declined and returned to his Orlando residence for a fortnight before next teeing up for the season-ending event in Dubai.
Also back in Orlando will be Rose and Poulter, and with Poulter ruling out the Singapore Open ahead of teeing up in the Australian Masters and in the same week as the UBS Hong Kong Open.
So McIlroy will compete later this week in Singapore and then defend the following week in Hong Kong virtually only needing a top 10 in Singapore to be assured of being crowned European No. 1.
If not then McIlroy still has only to finish top-three in Hong Kong or then top-10 in Dubai and both the European and PGA No. 1 crowns are his.
And Hanson was one of the first to single out the more than likely 2012 European No. 1.
“The Tour had been very good to hold a spot for me in Singapore because Peter Lawrie didn’t take up the offer of an invitation but I just need a break,” said Hanson.
“Depending of course on what he does this coming week in Singapore and next week in Hong Kong I may still have a chance going to Dubai, so hopefully that may be the case.
“In the bigger picture, I still have plenty of years to win the Race to Dubai and besides given the way Rory has played this year I feel as though he deserves to end the year Number One.
“It’s disappointing that it won’t sort of add spice to these next two events but then given the season I’ve had winning the KLM Open, playing in a winning Ryder Cup team and beating Rory last week in Shanghai to win three out of four, I have to be very happy.
“Also I have some stuff to do back home in Florida as I’ve got the Tiger Challenge at the Breakers Club pairing with Justin Rose the Monday and Tuesday of the Hong Kong Open.
“So if I did play Singapore I would be letting Justin down for the Tiger Challenge.”
