Donaldson is in the lead, but behind him, a few strokes away, Westwood and McIlroy are pressing, opponents that no one would want on his heels if he were trying to win a golf tournament: the fourth promises to be full of suspense and new twists and last day, today, of the Omega European Masters, in Crans Montana, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. A delicious appointment for many Italian amateurs, who flock to the fashionable tourist resort to see their favorites, hoping, perhaps, to play with them in one of the ProAms that precede and follow the tournament. The context is worth the trip, as the Crans-Sur-Sierre Golf Club is located on a plateau at 1500 meters above the Rhone valley and overlooks the peaks of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
Matteo Manassero, Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari, who have known the field since they were very young, are also in the running for the podium of the sixty-fifth edition of the Omega Masters. The result, at the starting blocks of the fourth lap, doesn't seem so easy. The closest to the leaders is Edoardo (fifteenth in the standings), who starts today with -8, Jamie Donaldson (-6) at 14 strokes; Francesco follows with -7 (twentieth), then Manassero -6 (twenty-fifth). Unfortunately Lorenzo Gagli, the fourth Italian entered in the race, did not pass the cut on Friday, although he is doing very well on the tour and is ready to step into the role of the fourth musketeer.
The challenge at the top levels of the tournament is all to be savored: the Welshman Donaldson, 36 years old, number 107 in the world, three victories in his career, none this year, has the arduous task of staying in command if he wants to win, but in the middle there are 18 holes. Will he make it?
Lee Westwood, number two in the world, chases him at a distance, after yesterday scoring a fabulous -7. Interviewed at the end of the round, the English champion said he had found a good feeling with him and it's safe to bet that he will do everything to keep it today too. His only problem is a bad cold, which yesterday didn't stop him from hitting 7 birdies, without scoring even a bogey.
In place three, with -12, is Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, 22, an impressive talent. Rory is increasingly the man to beat. This season he was featured in two majors and won one (the US Championship), he is almost always the favorite of the bookmakers. The length of his drives is devastating, the ease of his adolescent putts. An explosive and winning blend, when it works. In every tournament, it bears repeating, you always look for the potential heir to Tiger Woods and McIlroy is the number one candidate. The upturned nose and that mischievous air make him appreciated even by the gossip chronicles, especially now that he is engaged to the tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. In short, McIlroy is very close to becoming a real star or maybe he already is.
Position number 4 for Thomas Bjorn, -11, not to be underestimated. Bjorn, 40 years old from Denmark, won the Scottish Open last week and over the last year has appeared as fit as ever, more self-confident and capable of biting until the end. Worth mentioning is the German Martin Kaymer, -10, always dangerous and, in 15th place, on a par with Edo Molinari, Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Spaniard who won last year. Crans' golf is suited to his game: not long and very technical. The course was redesigned by the late Severiano Ballestreros, an unforgettable champion who won three times in Switzerland, the first at the age of twenty in '77.
Great performance yesterday also for the South African Keith Horne, who with the result of -6 of the day, placed himself in sixth position with a total of -10.
Crans is the first appointment in which European players begin to accumulate points also for the Ryder Cup, the USA-Europe challenge. The appointment is for next year and Europe will have to defend the title conquered last year in Chicago. Placing well is therefore important to win a place in the team and the Italians, in this sense, are in pole position.
