Robert Allenby may not have won for two years and there are eight ahead of him, but the Australian has his supporters to be one of two captain's choices for the International team to meet the United States in next month's Presidents' Cup match in Melbourne.
The home-town professional has won twice at the Royal Melbourne venue but his first victory was six years ago in the Johnnie Walker Classic and his last the following year in the Players' Championship.
Allenby has been widely regarded as an automatic selection for the 12-man International team for the December 11th-13th event based largely on his record at the composite course. But while team captain Peter Thomson may or may not read out Allenby's name when he announces his two choices for his team today, the five-times British Open champion's selection process will meet more criteria than the obvious.
The top 10 internationals (outside the Europeans who are ineligible for the team) come from the official world rankings. For Allenby to be picked Thomson would have to overlook several who have performed much better throughout the year.
Four Australians - Greg Norman, Steve Elkington, Stuart Appleby and Craig Parry - have already been confirmed in the side but there are eight players ahead of Allenby in the race for the two captain's choice spots.
Allenby's last win was the British Masters in 1996, one of three victories on the European Tour that year before his season was cut short by a car accident in Spain.
He finished with a share of eighth at last weekend's Volvo Masters but languishes at 81 on the rankings. Ahead of him in order are Filipino Frankie Minoza (ranked 55), New Zealander Frank Nobilo (57), Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty (58), Argentinian Eduardo Romero (60), New Zealander Greg Turner (68), Australians Stephen Leaney (70), Peter O'Malley (71) and South African Retief Goosen (78).
"I'm stuck with the top 10 in terms of where they come from but I'm not obligated to choose the next two on the rankings list," Thomson said.
Keith Nolan has pre-qualified for the US Tour School after finishing in the top 15 of the Second stage Qualifying at the Deerwood Club, Kingswood in Texas. The Bray golfer shot rounds of 72, 73, 66, 72 to finish on 283, 11 shots behind the leading qualifier Joey Gullion.
He must now travel to La Quinta, California from November 18th23rd to try and retain his tour card at the tour school. Richard Coughlan begins his quest to make the final qualifying stage this week in Florida.
