Justin Rose won the European Order of Merit on Sunday following his victory at the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama.

It caps what his coach, Nick Bradley, describes as a "groundbreaking" season for the Englishman where he did not finish less than 12th in any of the season's four majors.

Bradley (pictured second from the right) has had a large part to play in helping Rose to 7th in the world rankings and he will be on hand to answer your questions about Rose's season on Thursday.

And if you have any problems with your own game or about golf in general, Nick will do his best to reply.

Please note because of technical problems in America, Nick will log onto 606 as soon as possible, so keep your questions coming in.

Rich golfers getting richer is the sort of story that should generally be avoided.

“What’s new?” is a familiar reaction, but it has to be admitted the European Tour’s announcement of its latest lucrative deal involves staggering sums of money.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/gol...

Thanks to the seemingly bottomless pits of cash to be found in Dubai, from 2009 the Tour’s leading players will be able to compete in the single richest tournament in the world.

Furthermore a bonus pool that matches the tournament’s $10m prize fund means the top 15 earners in the year will hit a jackpot that, even by golf’s gargantuan standards, is well worth winning.

The Order of Merit will become “The Race to Dubai”. Two million dollars will go to the winner of the Race; $1.5m goes to the player finishing second and $1m to the guy finishing third. The money then staggers down to 15th place which is worth $250,000.

If the winner of the Race also claims the season ending Dubai World Championship in the way that Justin Rose took the 2007 Volvo Masters and Order of Merit, he will walk away with $3.66m.

Tour chief executive George O’Grady admitted: “We’ve had to re-focus the European Tour.” And this is the way he wants to compete with America. The PGA Tour, with its $10m four-tournament season-ending FedEx Cup series, has been proving more and more attractive to Europe’s top players.

But the Dubai funded figures dwarf the FedEx Cup cash, which is also paid as an annuity rather than as a single winner’s cheque.

They also breathe new life into the Order of Merit. No more need to go and “fill the wheelbarrow” with appearance money from places like Singapore as Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Angel Cabrera and Darren Clarke did in preference to playing the Volvo Masters.

Another welcome development is that from 2010 the European season will run from January to November, with a specific off-season. The current nonsense where the next year’s campaign begins the week after the previous one finishes is ridiculous.

As a result of jumping into bed with Dubai, the Tour will almost certainly be waving farewell to one of its more enduring venues.

Next year's Volvo Masters will be the last time this tournament closes a season and while the Tour is keen to hang on to Volvo as sponsors, there are indicators to suggest Valderrama will not want to stage what will be relegated to a regular tour stop, rather than the season finale.

Tradition tends to bite the dust when wallets are opened as widely as they have been with the Dubai deal.

Does it mean Europe’s biggest stars will be more likely to base themselves on their home tour? To a degree, but not massively, and Rose showed why by winning the Order of Merit competing in just 12 tournaments.

Will it attract more top Americans, like Tiger Woods? No. He has shown no interest in taking up European Tour membership and that would be a pre-requisite to make him eligible to compete for these new prizes.

Other Americans may be tempted, but would have to overcome their phobia to crossing their own borders.

For now the Tour can celebrate bolstering their position significantly. The deal with Dubai stretches far further than just the season-ending tournament and Race.

They will open an International Tour Headquarters – but won’t be moving from current Tour HQ at Wentworth – and several course design projects are on the table.

And for the moment, the Tour can boast that it will have the world’s richest tournament. Though, given the way organisations love to throw money at golfers, you have to wonder whether they’ll be able to say the same by the time it is staged.

Baddeley wins Australian Masters

FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD
-13 A Baddeley (Aus), D Chopra (Swe)*Baddeley wins on fourth play-off hole
-11 S Appleby (Aus)
-10 P O'Malley (Aus)
-9 D Horsey (Eng), P Lonard (Aus), R Pampling (Aus) Selected other:
-6 R McIlroy (NI)

Home favourite Aaron Baddeley claimed his first Australian Masters title after defeating Sweden's Daniel Chopra in a sudden death play-off.

Baddeley sealed the win in Melbourne after recovering from heavy rough for par on the fourth extra hole while Chopra missed a 5ft par putt.

England's Dave Horsey finished on nine under after a final-round 65, four strokes behind Chopra and Baddeley.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy carded a 73 to end up on six under.


Give your reaction to Baddeley's win

Baddeley and Chopra both finished regulation play on 13-under, with the Aussie world number 18, shooting a closing two-under 70. Overnight leader Chopra finished with a one-under 71.

"In the play-off I felt like I was swinging the club really well," said Baddeley.

"I just kept hitting the same shots and felt that I'd wear him down," Baddeley. "I had the chance to win at every play-off hole, and it was Dan who was saving it to keep it going.

"It really feels great to win at home. It's fantastic."
Compatriot Stuart Appleby, who had led until his final hole, double-bogeyed the 18th for a three-under 69 and dropped to third on 11-under 277.

The Australian Masters is co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European Tours.

Scotland claim World Cup thriller

FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD
-25 Montgomerie/Warren (Sco) *, Slocum/Weekley (USA)* Scotland win on third play-off hole
-24 Jacquelin/Havret (Fr)
-23 Poulter/Rose (Eng)
-21 Goosen/Immelman (SA) Selected others:
-8 Dodd/Dredge (Wal)
-7 Hoey/Maybin (Irl)

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren won the World Cup with a play-off victory over the United States at Mission Hills in China.

The Scottish pairing sealed victory when Boo Weekley missed a 15-foot par putt on the third extra hole.

The win made up for the heartbreak of last year when the Scottish pair lost a World Cup play-off against Germany.

"It was fantastic, after missing out last year to come here and win is superb," said Montgomerie.

Interview: Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren

Scotland were favourites to claim victory in regulation after a final round 66 left them on 25-under-par but the American pairing of Heath Slocum and Weekley, who had led after the opening three days, carded a crucial birdie at the last to force the play off.

We look forward to coming back and trying to defend the trophy
Colin Montgomerie

On the first extra hole, Montgomerie found sand from his tee shot with Warren also firing into a bunker with the second.

Montgomerie chipped to within 10 feet and after Slocum missed a birdie putt that would have sealed victory, Warren held his nerve to keep the tie alive.

Both teams parred the second play-off hole before Weekley failed to sink a tricky putt on the third to hand Scotland a memorable victory.

"There was pressure to come back after a play-off loss," said Montgomerie. "This is superb. We look forward to coming back and trying to defend the trophy.

"We are really proud. Marc was fantastic. He holed some great putts under pressure especially the one in the first hole of the play-off. We were favourites from then on."

Warren, winner of the Johnnie Walker Championship earlier in the year, said Montgomerie was immense in the alternate foursomes format.

"In this format he is the ideal partner," he said. "If you hit a bad shot you can rely on him to hole a putt or hit a good tee shot.

Every time we made a mistake we bounced back brilliantly but the mistakes proved costly
England's Justin Rose

"To have the opportunity to play with a golfer who has been there, seen it and done it all is an honour for me. He is a person I can learn from, I have learnt again this week and I am sure next time I play with him I will learn again.

"He is a great player and a great person to boot, someone I thoroughly enjoy being around - a person who likes to win and really that is what this game is all about."

The American duo of Weekley, ranked 43rd, and Slocum, ranked 70th, only got their chance after their higher-ranked compatriots turned down the opportunity to play and they said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

It was a great week," said Weekley. "It is an honour to be able to come over here and represent your country and play.

"We were not even supposed to be here and that is even more of a bonus. We feel disappointed with how we finished but it was a great week."

The French pairing of Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret claimed third place on 24-under-par thanks to a faultless final-round 67 which contained five birdies.

England's Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, who had started the day two shots behind the United States, never really threatened to capture a third World Cup success.

Rose did putt for an eagle on the ninth 9th but two bogeys on the front nine proved damaging as they carded a 67.

"I think we did well to score what we did considering we made some mistakes out there," said Rose.

"Every time we made a mistake we bounced back brilliantly with a birdie or an eagle but the mistakes proved costly."

The Welsh pairing of Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge finished tied for 22nd on eight under with Ireland's Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey finishing one shot further adrift.

Sjoland late show seals Tour card

Patrik Sjoland secured his European Tour card thanks to a wonder-shot in the final round of Qualifying School.
The Swede was one stroke outside the top-30 qualifiers when he reached the par-five seventh, his penultimate hole.

He watched in delight as his seven iron from 137 yards sailed into the cup for an eagle three at San Roque in Spain.

Martin Wiegele, Phillip Golding, Lee Slattery, Marcel Siem and Pedro Linhart were among the players who also sealed their 2007-08 European Tour berths.

Austria's Wiegele took the first prize of £15,000 after a closing 76 gave him an 11-under-par total, and a two-stroke win over Spaniard Linhart and Slattery of Britain.

But the shot of the day belonged to Sjoland, 36, winner of the 1998 Italian Open and 2000 Irish Open.

"I was surprised it went in but it gave me a shot to play with coming home," he said Sjoland after carding a 68. "To do this today is a big relief."

Sjoland bogeyed the eighth before a par at the last made sure he retained his playing privileges for another year.

Just as satisfied was Wiegele who lost his tour card two years ago.

"It is a beautiful feeling," said the 29-year-old. "I won for the first time on the Challenge Tour in Norway this year but it feels even better to win Tour School and regain my card.

Slattery's joint second place was all the sweeter after he missed out on his card by just £55 on the 2006-07 Order of Merit.

"It is such a relief," he said. "I feel I belong on the tour and it is good to bounce straight back."

Derby's Stuart Davis provided the most heart-breaking tale of the last round.

Sitting well inside the qualifying mark on a five-under total after 15 holes, he endured a calamitous bogey, bogey, triple-bogey finish to tumble out of the top 30.

US duo take early World Cup lead

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
-11 Slocum/Weekley (USA)
-10 Cejka/Kaymer (Ger)
-9 Goosen/Immelman (Rsa), Jaidee/Marksaeng (Tha), Dodd/Dredge (Wal), Montgomerie/Warren (Sco), Ilonen/Purhonen (Fin), Poulter/Rose (Eng)
Selected others:
-6 Hoey/Maybin (Irl)
-5 Jimenez/Lara (Spa)
Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum of the USA produced a strong performance on Thanksgiving Day to top the leaderboard after the first round of the World Cup.

Weekley and Slocum took a one-stroke lead with an 11-under 61 in fourballs at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China.

Defending champions Germany were in second place on 10 under, after Alex Cejka and Martin Kaymer carded 62.

England, Scotland and Wales joined three other teams a shot further back tied for third.

We didn't make any mistakes and didn't make any bogeys - which is obviously what kills you

Justin Rose

Weekley got the United States off to a good start with a birdie on the first, before Slocum putted for an eagle on the par-five third.

They reached the turn at five under before Weekley carded a birdie on the 11th, made an eagle on the par-four 12th and sank two successive birdies from the 16th.

England duo Justin Rose and Ian Poulter made a solid start, Poulter carding two eagles as the two-time winners finished at nine under.

"I think we played steadily," said Rose. "We didn't make too many birdies or too many putts, but we made key putts.

"We didn't make any mistakes and didn't make any bogeys - which is obviously what kills you out there."

If I was home right now, I'd be deer hunting

Boo Weekley

Weekley and Slocum were offered the chance to aim for a 25th US World Cup win in thew absence of more illustrious players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Weekley's visit to China is only the third time he has left his home country and he admitted to not knowing much about the country apart from "rice" and the Great Wall.

"It's a culture shock for me to come out and see different things because I'm a home boy," he said.

"I like to stay right around the house in the States... If I was home right now, I'd be deer hunting."

606: DEBATE
Can Weekley and Slocum hang on? Have your say

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren combined for five birdies on the front nine before a combined total of four coming home cemented their place among the clubhouse leaders.

Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd also made the ideal start as they look to secure a second World Cup victory in two years - carding an eagle and eight birdies while dropping one shot.

South Africa's Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman, who have both been successful success in previous versions of the tournament were also in the clubhouse at nine under.

Joining them were the Finnish duo of club professional Pasi Purhonen and Mikko Ilonen, who went nine under to take an early lead.

Ireland's Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin were three shots behind, after carding a six-under 66.

The World Cup sees teams of two people from each country compete over four rounds of golf.

Creamer stretches Champions lead

R3 LEADERBOARD:US unless stated

-16 P Creamer

-10 P Hurst

-9 J-J Hong (Kor)

-8 A Sorenstam (Swe), B Kim (Kor), S Pettersen (Swe)Selected others:

-3 K Stupples (GB)

+3 C Matthew (GB)

Paula Creamer chipped in for her third birdie at the 18th hole in as many rounds to extend her advantage in the LPGA Tournament of Champions.

The American's four-under par 68 on Saturday left her six shots ahead of compatriot Pat Hurst in Alabama.

Creamer, 21, birdied the fifth, 12th, 15th and last but was not totally happy with her round

"I didn't hit the ball as well as I did the other days. I was pulling some shots here and there," she said.

"But I'm pretty pleased with the way that I played overall.

"It's difficult when you go out there, and you have such a big lead and everyone is gunning for you. You've got to keep that momentum going."

Creamer missed the green with a wedge from 105 yards but chipped in to deny her rivals even a slight falter at the finish.

The tournament record of 21-under par, set by Mexico's world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico last year, is within reach for the leader.

"I know I can make a lot of birdies out here," she added. "I want to go as low as I can on Sunday."

Hurst also hit a 68 to move into second, one stroke ahead of South Korean 24-year-old rookie Jin Joo Hong.

She is two ahead of Korea's Birdie Kim, Norway's Suzann Pettersen and Sweden's Annika Sorenstam.

Ochoa also fired a 68 to share ninth on 211 at the event featuring 35 tournament winners from the past four LPGA seasons.

Mickelson triumphs after play-off

FINAL LEADERBOARD:

-10* P Mickelson (US), R Fisher (Eng), L Westwood (Eng)

-9 K Stadler (US)

-8 P Harrington (Ire), V Singh (Fij)

-7 S Webster (Eng)Selected others:Even R Goosen (SA)

+1 E Els (SA)

+6 I Poulter (Eng)

+7 S Garcia (Spa)

* Mickelson wins at 2nd extra hole

Phil Mickelson was taken to a second extra hole in a play-off with English duo Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood before winning the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The American dropped four shots in as many holes on the back nine to almost blow his chances, but playing partner Fisher took a seven at the last.

Mickelson's six at the same hole was enough to force the play-off with Westwood, all three on 10-under.

And in near darkness a Mickelson chip and putt for birdie won him the title.

"It feels amazing," said Mickelson. "I don't how it happened, the whole day was a whirlwind.

You have to feel for Ross Fisher, who had the biggest shot of his life when in the greenside rough at the 18th
BBC Sport's Oliver Brett

"I had to fight it out because I had a big lead but then hit some horrible shots. It's a funny game, golf, because I thought I was out of it at the last when I hit the water."

Mickelson had begun the day in pole position, two clear of nearest challenger Fisher.

And after 11 holes he remained on his overnight score of 16-under, well in control of affairs.

But he dropped four shots between the 12th and 15th to open the door for Fisher, whose birdie at the 13th also helped swing things in his favour.

Going down the par five 18th, the Englishman suddenly had a one-shot lead over the world number two and both hit good drives.

Fisher was first to play his second shot, and took the bold option of going for the green.

Taking a wood, he pulled the shot a fraction to finish on the greenside rough, while Mickelson found water.

Looking for all the world a winner, Fisher contrived to hit his next shot past the flag and into water, leaving Mickelson a put for a par and the tournament.

He missed that, before Fisher bravely holed an eight-footer for a seven to join his adversary in the play-off.

It was extraordinary that Westwood had reached the play-off after being 12 shots behind the lead at the turn on Sunday.

But he strung together six birdies on the back nine to roar up the leaderboard.

On the first extra hole, where the players took on the 18th once again, all three had birdie putts to win.

Westwood and Mickelson each missed 20-footers while Fisher had a shorter putt, but from the fringe.

All missed, and they played the hole again.

Westwood quickly dropped out of contention, however, and when Fisher missed a 12-foot birdie putt, Mickelson sunk his from four feet to win.

Paul Casey, playing in the same group as Fisher and Mickelson after starting the day on 11-under, fell away with a horrible 78, 12 shots worse than his immaculate third round.

His demise left Friday's leader Kevin Stadler to secure fourth place on nine-under, with Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh sharing fifth, a further shot behind.

Nicholas to lead Solheim Cup team

England's Alison Nicholas has been named European Solheim Cup captain in succession to Swede Helen Alfredsson.
The 45-year-old played in the contest six times and has also served as a vice-captain or assistant since then.
An obvious choice for the 2009 contest at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois, she said: "It's a great honour and I'm delighted. I can't wait.
"We face a big challenge, but I don't believe that anything is impossible. I want to enjoy the whole experience."
Nicholas said she intended to inject the fun factor into the team, to "help them to be the best that they can be."
She continued: "Although the Americans have a young side and are playing well, we've got a good core of experienced players and hopefully in the next two years we'll be able to bring in some youngsters who can give the team a good mix.
"If we prepare well, are mentally strong, believe in ourselves and produce a good team spirit, anything is possible."
Europe have lost the last two Solheim Cups and trail 7-3 in the series.
606: DEBATE
Will Alison Nicholas be an inspired European captain?
But those three wins featured Nicholas as a player twice, and once as Catrin Nilsmark's vice-captain, in 2003.
At just 4ft 10in tall, Nicholas is known as "Big Al". Her proudest moment came in 1997 when she won the US Women's Open, beating Nancy Lopez by one shot.
She was born in Gibraltar, but grew up in Sheffield and has lived in Birmingham since 1988, where she teaches at her own Alison Nicholas Golf Academy.
"I will do a lot of communicating over the next two years to try and get everyone together in order to build the right atmosphere that will allow us to bring the cup back to Europe.
"I think our players are just as good as the Americans and all we need to do is just believe that and go forward," Nicholas added.
Karen Lunn, chairman of the Ladies European Tour and the European Solheim Cup Committee, said Nicholas had all the qualities they were looking for in a captain.
"I am not sure that there is anyone that is as passionate about the Solheim Cup as Ali.
"Alison fully understands the difficulty of the task that lies ahead in going onto US soil to get the Solheim Cup back," she commented.

Rose sets sights on major in 2008

Justin Rose is targeting a major victory in 2008 after securing his first European PGA Tour Order of Merit title at Valderrama on Sunday.
The Englishman, who is up to seventh in the world rankings won a play-off for the Volvo Masters to finish number one.
"I think that's how you're remembered in the game in 20 or 50 years' time," Rose told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"The first port of call is 'he won two majors or three majors'. To me, it's really important to win a major."
Interview: Justin Rose
Rose, who enjoyed some impressive major results in 2007, called it a "lifelong dream" to claim one of the four tournaments that define a golfer's greatness or otherwise.
If Tiger was to have a slip up I'd love to be the guy who's snapping at his heels
Justin RoseHe finished tied for fifth at this year's Masters, 10th at the US Open, 12th at the Open and 12th at the USPGA Championship.
"I've won the Open about 1,000 times on the putting green as a kid. That's what drives me," he added.
"Until winning yesterday, the thing that I took most confidence and comfort from was fact that I played well in the majors this year and got close to winning the Masters.
"That's where I've gained a lot of confidence from this year."
While a major victory is a serious target for Rose, he does not expect to be challenging Tiger Woods for the world number one ranking any time soon.
606: DEBATE
I hope this is the beginning of the peak of his career that I expect to last at least 10 years
super7577
"For me to be world number one I'd probably have to win my next 20 tournaments, he's such a long way ahead," Rose told BBC Radio 4.
"I think number two in the world is certainly a do-able thing but Tiger's really separated himself in terms of the world ranking - he's a long, long way ahead.
"In the short term I don't think that's realistic but certainly if he was to have a slip up I'd love to be the guy who's snapping at his heels."
Rose pipped Ernie Els to the Order of Merit title after the South African opted to play in the Singapore Open instead and has also virtually assured himself a place in Europe's side for the 2008 Ryder Cup.
And Nick Faldo, who will be his skipper at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, is happy to have Rose as part of his team.
"He's playing under pressure every week in America and has really come a long, long way this year," said Faldo.
"It won't be long before he gets into the winner's circle in America and then he's going to be a regular contender and a regular winner, I'm sure."
Rose's coach Nick Bradley described the 2007 season as "groundbreaking" and said he could win a major as early as next year.
"What we've done is create a new, better Justin Rose, a Justin Rose that now feels he is equipped to go forward with his career in a very confident manner," he told BBC Sport.
"He's got to be looked at as a major contender by virtue of his performances in the majors this year and the fact that he is European number one.
"Once you jockey in position and you start to build up the profile of major championship winner, then you'd have to say that."

Els determined to make fast start

World number four Ernie Els is hopeful of a strong start when the 2008 European Tour begins with the HSBC Champions event on Thursday.
Els failed to make the cut at the Singapore Open and is looking for an improvement in Shanghai.
"After last week I want to play a lot better, so I'm motivated," he said.
Tiger Woods misses the event for the first time, but Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh are all in an elite 89-man field.
Colin Montgomerie became embroiled in a war of words with 38-year-old Els after suggesting the South African was wrong to play on the Asian Tour instead of playing at last week's Tour final in Valderrama, where he had the chance to secure the Order of Merit.
"I am still very disappointed that we had to events like that head-to-head against each other," Els insisted. "I was caught between a rock and a hard place but I had to honour my commitment."

To compound matters, Els suffered food poisoning in Singapore and struggled to rounds of 72 and 76 and the ignominy of the halfway axe.
"That's the game of golf. I had a weird week with everything that happened in Europe and eating the wrong food meant I had a tough week," he lamented.
"But I am experienced enough. I have had difficult weeks before and I just have to forget about it and go on. I am looking to just concentrate on the golf this week and hopefully do a bit better."
Open champion Harrington was also in contention for the Order of Merit going into the final event, but finished in a share of fourth at Valderrama to end in third place in the money list behind Justin Rose, who is not playing this week, and Els.
There's a keen sense to get off to a good start and get going in the race
Ireland's Padraig Harrington
"I came up short at the very end, but I went into it under the spotlight aiming to perform and get myself in position and, but for a couple of putts, I would have been there or thereabouts," the Irishman commented.
"After coming very close on the Order of Merit, and this week being the first event of the 2008 Order of Merit, there's a keen sense to get off to a good start and get going in the race.
"I'm a little jet-lagged, but I am well motivated for this week. Losing out last week has got me very keen to start well this year. "I feel better than I did towards the end of last summer; I wasn't 100% strong through September, but I feel ready to go now.
"I've played the course the last couple of years and I'm very familiar with it. There's a bit more rough this year, but I think one round in the Pro-Am is enough in the context that I know it from previous years."