The European Tour’s “Race To Dubai” next year will include a FedEx Cup-style finale. It won’t be a playoff, but players hoping to take a shot at the Dubai title need to play in two of the three final events. A player who plays in all three would get a 20 percent bonus. Interesting, but I don’t see it doing anything to prevent the exodus of European Tour players to the PGA Tour.
Speaking of Dubai, Rory McIlroy carded five straight birdies to win the Dubai World Championship over Justin Rose. McIlroy had a Tigeresque year, winning the PGA Championship as well as the European and PGA Tour money titles. In what has to be a scary note for the rest of the players, McIlroy said:
The big difference this year has been that when I haven’t been at my best, I have still competed and won tournaments.
That’s something I said I wanted to get better at. Before this year, I felt my wins came when I just played great golf and nobody could get near me.
Being able to win when not at your best is what Tiger has done for so many years. That’s why he has won so many tournaments. I’m definitely not at that level yet, but I’m learning how to do it.
The PGA Tour’s toughest course this past year was—no big surprise—the USGA US Open Olympic Club. There, players averaged 3.844 over par. That was followed by the PGA Championship’s Kiawah Island. The toughest regular Tour stop was the AT&T National at Congressional, which of course, is on the US Open’s rota. Congressional was 2.046 over par. The full list is here.
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Rory comments sound very similar to what Tiger Woods used to be able to do.
Tiger was the only player that was capable of winning tournaments with his ‘B’ game.
The only possible glitch in Rory’s game could be the change of equipment in 2013.
It will be interesting to see how Rory adapts to the new clubs and balls.