Two of Spain’’s leading Ryder Cup players, Sergio Garcia and José Maria Olazábal, are involved in a dramatic fight to finish in the top 60 in the Volvo Order of Merit and claim their places in the season-ending Volvo Masters Andalucia at Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, Andalucia.
Due to a change in the qualification process this year, only players finishing in the leading 60 places on the Volvo Order of Merit are eligible to play in the season’’s finale on Spain’’s Costa del Sol from October 30 – November 2.
And as the pursuit of places in the top 60 intensifies over the next two weeks on The European Tour International Schedule, Garcia, in 57th place, and Olazábal, currently right on the qualification mark in 60th place, have their work cut out to compete on home soil at Valderrama.
Olazábal, who has €332,647 to his name and is only €2,845 ahead of Australia’’s Peter O’’Malley in 61st place, steps up his bid to secure a place in the field when he plays in this week’’s dual ranking Turespaña Mallorca Classic on the sunshine island of Majorca, while Garcia returns to Europe the following week to join his fellow Ryder Cup player in the field for the Telefonica Open de Madrid.
At present, Garcia has former Volvo PGA Champion, Anders Hansen of Denmark, India’’s Arjun Atwal and Olazábal right behind him, and with earnings of €352,181 he is €16,128 behind 56th placed Gary Murphy of Ireland, who is bidding to make his debut in the end of season classic.
All 60 players from the top of the Volvo Order of Merit following the Telefonica Open de Madrid are eligible to challenge for the record €3,500,000 prize fund, when the winner will earn a €583,330 first prize.
The continuing development of the Volvo Order of Merit has been an important aspect of Volvo’’s sponsorship since the company launched its partnership with The European Tour in 1988.
As a result, the finishing positions over the next few weeks will play a vital role in where and when European Tour Members can compete worldwide in 2004. The Volvo Order of Merit, for example, provides important exemptions to many of the world’’s leading tournaments. In 2003 those were as follows:
THE 132ND OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
• The first 20 in the Volvo Order of Merit for 2002.
• The first five and anyone tying for fifth place, who are not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 in the Volvo Order of Merit for 2003 as of May 29.
• The first seven European Tour Members and any European Tour Member tying for seventh place, who are not otherwise exempt in the top 25 of a cumulative money list taken from all (Volvo Order of Merit) events from the Volvo PGA Championship up to and including The Barclays Scottish Open.
THE 103RD US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
• The leading 15 players in the 2002 Volvo Order of Merit.
• The top two players in the 2003 Volvo Order of Merit as of May 26.
WGC – AMERICAN EXPRESS CHAMPIONSHIP
• The top 20 players only from the Volvo Order of Merit as of September 22, 2003, if not already exempt.
• The top 20 players only from the Volvo Order of Merit as of September 29, 2003, if not already exempt.
At the moment, Australia’’s Peter Lonard holds down 15th place in the Volvo Order of Merit with €850,491, a mere €14,106 ahead of England’’s David Howell in 16th place with Volvo PGA champion, Ignacio Garrido of Spain, a further €13,671 in arrears.
Equally close is the contest to finish in the top 20, with Michael Campbell of New Zealand currently in the box seat of 20th position with €776,999. However in hot pursuit are England’’s Justin Rose (€749,700) and Swedish Ryder Cup player, Niclas Fasth (€736,354).
