Home

Getting started

Golf equipment

Golf lessons

Memorabilia

Articles

Club Repairs

Online Shops

Golf Quizzes

Golf Breaks

Press Releases

Directories

Classified Ads

Site Map

Contact us

Advertise on Golfer-Today

Get your golf article published

Victory in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama 2007 for Justin Rose
- by Rikki White

The Volvo Masters 2007 at the Club de Golf Valderrama, Andalucia, Spain is the last big event of the European season with substantial prize money and Ryder Cup points to be won, which lured some of the Brits who reside in America and are more often seen on the lucrative US PGA tour, to play in this tournament. The cream of Europe were also out in force.

Six leading contenders for the European Order of Merit were contracted for the Singapore Open, which coincided with the Volvo Masters and explained the absence of Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Darren Clarke and Michael Campbell.

Ernie Els has been reported as saying that this is the time of year when players get their wheelbarrows out to load up with the money on offer for the end of season events!!!

Plenty of drama on day 1 – the small slippery greens caused havoc with many of the players. Paul Casey took 5 putts from 6 feet at the 7 th and had two 8s on his card for a round of 80. Gregory Havret carded a 10 and a 6 on the last two holes with no cut at this event to shorten the agony. However, big smiles from an unwell Justin Rose, with a hole-in-one at the 3 rd, to make him feel a whole lot better.

Conditions were brutal on day 1 and no better on day 2 with only Justin Rose under par. Added interest was engendered in this event because the European Order of Merit hinged on it. With Ernie Els in Singapore, four of the contenders were in with a chance to take the title.

Justin Rose went into day 3 four shots ahead, but a bogey at the first and a miraculous birdie by Padraig Harrington saw a two shot swing. As these two were both vying to snatch the Order of Merit from Ernie Els, the game was really on. A double bogey from Rose on hole 2 and the pair were all square. Rose kept his cool, however, and by hole 11 had re-established his 4 shot lead which is how the day ended.

Day 4 appeared to be a head-to-head between Rose and Harrington to clinch the order of merit. Padraig is a past master at scrambling victories when all seems lost (who can forget the 2007 Open Championship), so it was a clash of the Titans. But at Valderrama nothing’s over until it’s over, and the 17 th has ruined many a card and produced more than one 10 this week and many visits to the water, so no-one can be complacent.

Justin came unstuck at the 11 th with a double bogey, followed by a couple of bogies, which saw his lead vanish. An albatross at the notorious 17 th for Graeme McDowell really put the cat among the pigeons, and a birdie from his playing partner saw Soren Kjeldsen go into the lead. Never have I seen such drama over the space of a few holes.

Meanwhile Simon Dyson who had started the day 4 shots back, and Soren Kjelson who started 7 back finished level with Justin, who managed a birdie on the 17 th to stay in contention.

With a three way tie after 72 holes, Justin Rose was assured of being top of the European Order of Merit, and with this title in the bag a more relaxed Justin won on the second play-off hole. A fine victory and one which I hope will persuade him to spend a bit more time on the European tour.

Golfer-Today.co.uk

6 Broadway, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8AZ

Back to Top