TOUR NEWS SWEDE IN SIGHT OF TITLE:THE NUMBERS game to determine the PGA European Tour's money leader will continue for just two more weeks, but Robert Karlsson's decision to stay away from this week's Mediterranean Masters - where Sergio Garcia is the host - would indicate that the towering Swede knows he is head and shoulders above everyone as far as crunching euro, the currency of choice, is concerned. The race is all but won.

This week's tournament in Valencia and next week's limited-field, season-ending Volvo Masters in Valderrama bring the curtain down on the season, even if the next campaign - The Race to Dubai on the 2009 circuit - kick-starts virtually straightaway in the Far East with the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai on November 6th-9th.

With just two events left towards the 2008 European Tour Order of Merit, only five players - at least technically - can win the Vardon trophy: Karlsson, Pádraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and, the real outside bets, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Henrik Stenson.

Of the quintet, though, only Stenson is in the field for Valencia where there will be as much nerves in the lower reaches of the Order of Merit as players on the borderline attempt to secure automatic tour cards for next year without having to revert to next month's Tour School for such privileges.

The top 115 on the money list after Valencia will earn their full tour cards for next season, with England's Sam Little currently occupying the precarious last automatic place. Remarkably, Little was in a similar position a year ago when a runner-up finish in the Mallorca Classic ensured he retained his tour card.

It is, perhaps, an indication of the impressive season enjoyed by Irish golfers that not one of them is involved in the dog-fight to retain a tour card.

And, even more impressively, seven of them - Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie and Rory McIlroy - have already secured their places in the field for Valderrama, where there will be a top prize of €708,330.

In an unparalleled season that has seen no fewer than eight tournament victories by Irish players, it would probably need another one this week from Gary Murphy - currently 98th on the money list - for him to increase the Irish numerical challenge in the Volvo Masters.

Murphy is one of four Irish players competing at Valencia, where he is joined by McGinley, a player desperately seeking to rediscover his form, Lawrie and McIlroy.

Garcia is joined by three other members of Europe's Ryder Cup team -Justin Rose, Paul Casey and Stenson - for the event on his home course, where he grew up playing the game.

But golfing matters were put into perspective when Colombian Camilo Villegas, who was originally scheduled to play, was forced to withdraw after his uncle was gunned down in an armed robbery on his business in Colombia.

In a statement, Villegas said: "I was very saddened to learn of the death of my Uncle Ernesto, but even more saddened to learn of the tragic, and completely senseless, circumstances in which he died. Ernesto was a wonderful man, and I am proud to not only call him my uncle, but also my godfather.

"I will miss him very much. I truly appreciate all of the kind support I have received already, and thank everyone in advance for respecting my family's privacy during this difficult time."

Incidentally, McIlroy's recent fine form and move to 91st in the world rankings - the first time he has broken into the top-100 - means there are five Irish players - Harrington (fourth), McDowell (33rd), Clarke (62nd) and McGinley (88th) - in that elite grouping.

Harrington, who is on a two-week break, can still mathematically catch Karlsson at the top of the Order of Merit. To do so, Harrington would have to win next week's finale without Karlsson finishing second; or, if Harrington is second in Valderrama, then Karlsson would have to finish outside the top-five.

For McDowell, his outside chances of winning the Order of Merit ended with his tied-42nd place finish in last week's Portugual Masters. Now down to seventh on the money list, McDowell - who would have played in Valencia if the Vardon trophy were still within his grasp - has decided to take a week's break instead before focusing his intentions on Valderrama and then moving on to the new campaign.

"As a very target-orientated player, I am going to treat these next couple of months as a whole mini-season of its own," said McDowell, who has ear-marked a place in the world's top-25 as his main goal for the rest of the season.

However, on the personal targets front, his movement in the world rankings - from 108th at the start of the year - means that he has already secured his place in next year's four major championships.

Indeed, McDowell will realise another ambition later this year when he represents Ireland for the first time in the World Cup at Mission Hills in China next month. McDowell, who secured the first automatic place on the two-man Irish team off the world rankings, once Harrington decided not to play, will partner McGinley in the tournament on November 27th-30th.