Down to the wire

This year's Volvo Masters at Valderrama always threatened to be a cliff-hanger and it didn't let us down. The simple facts are that Jeev Milka Singh won the event by a single shot, and by sharing the second spot, Padraig Harrington overtook Paul Casey to win the Order of Merit and take the Vardon Trophy. But the simple facts do not do justice to the dramas of the the final event of the European Tour season. Firstly, who would have bet on Milka Singh winning the tournament, even when he ended the third round as overnight leader, let alone before the event started? Having won the Volvo China Open in May, Singh, one of the very few Indians playing golf at the highest level, displayed complete self-control and no little skill in negotiating this tough course on the final day, winning more comfortably than his one shot advantage would indicate. Then the way Harrington hauled himself into second spot, the minimum requirement to overtake the ailing Casey, was the stuff of Roy of the Rangers. Casey bravely made life more difficult for his challengers by playing the last two rounds in two under par, after losing his chance of victory on the first two days, due to the debilitating effects of a mysterious virus. However, Harrington still needed to play the last 3 holes in one-under-par to secure second place, which he duly achieved, despite hitting his second shot into the water on the par five17th., where he still conjured a magical par. He won the Vardon Trophy by the slender margin of 35,252€. Howell made a brave attempt and despite going into the event carrying an injury to his shoulder, finished only one shot behind Harrington, but Karlsson, the other challenger, faded completely, finishing on four-over par. For me, the real winner was the golf course. In an era when courses are deemed to be "too easy" if they measure less than 7,500 yards, Valderrama, assisted by wet windy weather, severely tested some of the world's best golfers, which many of the European Tour players undoubtedly are. And it measures a mere 6,952 yards. These days, nearly all par fives are reachable by the longer hitters, but at Valderrama, brute strength is not enough. Even some of the longest daren't take on the par five 4th., with it's tiny green protected by trees on the left and a small lake on the right. Surprisingly to some, Valderrama welcomes green fee golfers, and at 260€ (290€ at weekends) it represents better value than many lesser courses which charge heavily on the back of hosting Majors or Ryder Cups. You can reserve at Valderrama through Golf Leisure Breaks and enjoy a generous discount, by calling 952 582 943