Kaymer joins Westwood in the race to become world number one
Published:Martin Kaymer’s win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship capped a brilliant week for the German, but Kaymer can improve his season further with a win at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters at the end of the month.
Kaymer’s win in Scotland was his third successive victory on the European Tour after wins in the US PGA Championship and the KLM Open, and after helping steer Europe to a Ryder Cup victory, Kaymer is the hottest prospect in golf.
The German is now a long way ahead of his rivals in the Race to Dubai having earned €3,134,447 this year, almost €1m more than his closest rival Graeme McDowell, €2,138,866, and the betting market suggests the race is all but over with Kaymer 1/40 to win.
McDowell is 12/1 to catch Kaymer and with seven tournaments left in the season, the Ulsterman has ample opportunities to do so, but Kaymer will be focusing on a win in Spain at the end of the month which would see him oust Tiger Woods as the world number one.
Lee Westwood has suffered a reoccurrence of the calf injury that kept him out for six weeks before the Ryder Cup and won’t play until the WGC – HSBC Champions event in November.
Because of his decision and the way the rankings are worked, Lee Westwood will become world number one on November 1st if Woods doesn’t play until the HSBC Champions event, and Kaymer doesn’t win the Valderrama Masters.
Woods has admitted his schedule doesn’t include any tournaments until the HSBC Champions event, so Westwood’s main challenger to the number one throne is his Ryder Cup team-mate.
Kaymer’s form this season has been nothing short of incredible and he can’t be ruled out of registering a fourth successive victory.
Westwood is 40/1 to win the Race to Dubai. See the full Race to Dubai betting odds market here.
