RORY McILROY’S last-hole birdie in Shanghai has taken him to a career-high second in the world.
Now only England’s Luke Donald is ahead of the 22-year-old US Open champion thanks to his fourth place finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions event. If he had parred the 18th, McIlroy would have been in a four-way tie for sixth and would have stayed behind Lee Westwood in the rankings. But he hit his approach to the par five to the back of the green and two-putted – watched by Westwood, who came only just 13th after a disappointing closing 74.
Martin Kaymer’s victory after a magnificent 63 containing nine birdies in the last 12 holes has lifted him back to fourth – giving Europe the top four places again.
Donald missed the tournament while awaiting the birth of his second daughter, but was too far ahead to be caught even if Westwood or McIlroy had won.
“Obviously, Luke is a very nice guy and he deserves to be number one in the world,” said Kaymer. “He deserves to be number one in Europe. It will be difficult (to catch him), but that is what the sport is about, to challenge yourself, challenge the other players that you play with week in, week out, and of course I will try to give him a hard time.”
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Golf bosses have described caddy Steve Williams’ controversial remark about former employer Tiger Woods as “entirely unacceptable”, but will not be taking the matter further following the New Zealander’s apology.
Williams, who was sacked by the ex-world number one during the summer after 13 years together and is now caddy for Australian Adam Scott, disparaged Woods at a caddies awards dinner in Shanghai last Friday night.
He had told the audience that the aim of his celebration when Scott won a world championship in August was “to shove it right up that black a*******”.
Williams subsequently issued an apology on his website while admitting the comments “could be construed as racist”.
A joint statement from European Tour chief George O’Grady and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, released following the end of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai yesterday, read: “The International Federation of PGA Tours feels strongly there is no place for any form of racism in ours or any other sport.
“We consider the remarks of Steve Williams, as reported, entirely unacceptable in whatever context. We are aware that he has apologised fully and we trust we will not hear such remarks again.
“Based on this, we consider the matter closed, and we will have no further comment.”
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Simon Thornton sealed his card for the 2012 European Tour with the best round of the crucial final day at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
The 34-year-old Irishman began the day right on the brink of missing out on a ticket to the elite Tour in European golf after a level par third round of 71.
But his final round, which gave him a tied sixth finish, five behind winner Andrea Pavan on 12 under, meant he secured a top 15 place and a category for next season on the top tier. He was already celebrating before the final round began after his wife, Ciara, gave birth to their second child, a boy.
