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Mathematically. Wow, that’s a big word with which to start an article. I suspect it’s a personal best. Sorry, where was I? Oh,yes! Mathematically, only three men can prevent Rory McIlroy from winning the European Order Of Merit on the new Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai this week. The 20-year-old is in pole position to win the Race To Dubai, as the Order Of Merit has been re-branded, following a second to Frenchman Gregory Bourdy at the Hong Kong Open in Fanling, overtaking Lee Westwood, who had a bit of a nightmare in the former colony. Also suffering disappointment last week was Geoff Ogilvy, who failed to make an impact at the JBWere Masters in his native Australia so, with Paul Casey ruled out with injury, that leaves only Westwood, Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher (who did us a massive favour in the World Matchplay) as potential challengers to McIlroy’s claims to be European number one. The young Ulsterman, in only his second season on the European Tour, is a general 1-2 to collect enough prize money to ensure he finishes ahead of the bunch and a general 9-1 to end the year on a high by winning the Dubai World Championship itself. But nerves are surely going to play a part here. Westwood (a general 16-1) is vastly more experienced and, though his form has tailed off a little in recent weeks, he’ll be trying to exert maximum pressure on McIlroy with the big four, in the opening rounds at least, set to be out on the course at the same time. Kaymer must be cursing the fact (I nearly wrote kicking himself) that he missed two months of the season having broken toes in a karting accident but a win in Dubai, for which he is a general 14-1 chance, would still guarantee him top spot and his fate is still in his own hands, unlike Fisher (a general 20-1) who could still miss out if McIlroy or Westwood were to finish in the frame. And of course, there are almost 60 of the world’s best players out to spoil the party. Ernie Els has a fantastic record in Dubai and is back in form. At a general 16-1 he might be worth a saver, while Padraig Harrington is reported to have been thoroughly refreshed by a family holiday and will have some takers at a general 18-1. Trying to end the year with a bang, though, this columnist will be relying on Justin Rose. The Englishman has had a bit of an up and down season, dividing his time between Europe and America, but has been in a rich vein of form over the last eight weeks, recording under par 72-hole scores in every tournament he’s contested in that time, including a 17 under to tie for fourth place in last week’s Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Florida. Rose is another who likes the desert (he was second in the Dubai Desert Classic back in February) so I’ll be having an interest at 30-1 with boylesports.

Did you know there are three bridges on the Augusta National course home, of course, of The Masters? One is named after Ben Hogan, one Byron Nelson and one Gene Sarazen. Maybe they should consider naming something permanent after Gary Player, who is making his 52nd appearance at The Masters this year, two more than the legendary Arnold Palmer. The veteran South African can boast 15 top ten finishes in the year’s first Major but that’s still seven less than Jack Nicklaus. I must admit that the only time I’ve encountered a bridge on a golf course it led to a windmill which steadfastly refused to allow my ball through so I could make the clown’s nose light up – but that’s a story for another day. The darling of the Augusta crowd nowadays is, of course, Tiger Woods. Already a winner four times, the 33-year-old has returned from serious knee surgery as good as ever judged on his win in last month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament at Bay Hill. This is Woods‘first Major since he pushed Rocco Mediate all the way in last year’s US Open on virtually one leg and he’ll be keen to impress. But it must be remembered that Tiger has had to settle for place money on three occasions since beating Chris DeMarco in a sudden-death play-off in 2005 so you must make your mind up whether sportingbet and betdaq’s 9-4 represents value. I’d prefer to look at a few of the alternative markets. For example, how about an interest in Justin Rose to finish the top European? The Briton’s best-ever finish in a Major remains his debut fourth in the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale but he has a fantastic qualifying record at Augusta, He led at the halfway stage in 2004 and tied at the end of the opening round in 2007 and again last year with eventual winner Trevor Immelman, only to fade away disappointingly after. Rose is very selective in the tournaments he plays nowadays, which means he arrives at Augusta relatively fresh so the 12-1 in this section with Paddy Power and William Hill is certainly worth a second look.