How to win the Order of Merit

Colin Montgomerie flew to Spain this week believing he had no chance of winning the Volvo Order of Merit for an eighth successive time. It was only when the 37-year-old Scot arrived at Valderrama for the WGC - American Express Championship that he was told he was still alive in the race. Any one of six players can top the Volvo Order of Merit with numerous permutations of how it can be achieved.

And the race to finish as Europe's number one is going to go right down to the wire. For example, if Westwood finishes eighth and Clarke finishes 39th this week, the Volvo Order of Merit will be decided by just €4 with the Ulsterman coming out on top. That is of course provided none of the other challengers in the top six in the Volvo Order of Merit win at Valderrama.

What the top six challengers need to do this week to win the Volvo Order of Merit.

If Darren Clarke wins WGC - American Express Championship, he wins the Volvo Order of Merit
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If Lee Westwood wins at Valderrama, Westwood wins Volvo Order of Merit
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If Ernie Els Wins, Clarke needs to finish outright 2nd to win the Volvo Order of Merit Westwood cannot win the Volvo Order of Merit
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If Thomas Bjorn Wins, Clarke must finish 2nd or joint 2nd with one other player only to win Volvo Order of Merit. Westwood must finish outright 2nd to win Volvo Order of Merit. Els cannot win the Volvo Order of Merit.
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If Michael Campbell wins, Clarke needs to finish 2nd or 3rd to win the Volvo Order of Merit. Westwood must finish 2nd or joint 2nd with one other player only to win the Volvo Order of Merit. Els and Bjorn cannot win the Volvo Order of Merit.
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If Colin Montgomerie wins, Clarke must finish in top 5 to win the Volvo Order of Merit. Westwood needs to finish in top 3. Els, Bjorn, and Campbell cannot win the Volvo Order of Merit.
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Els, Bjorn, Campbell and Montgomerie must all win to have a chance of winning the Volvo Order of Merit and overtaking Clarke and Westwood.
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If none of the above win then Westwood needs to earn €107,969 more than Clarke to win the Volvo Order of Merit. Therefore Westwood must finish at least in the top 8 to have a chance of overtaking Clarke.
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Westwood finishes 8th = Clarke must finish in top 39 to win the Volvo Order of Merit

Westwood finishes 7th = Clarke must finish in the top 24

Westwood finishes 6th = Clarke must finish 13th or better

Westwood finishes 5th = Clarke must finish 10th or better

Westwood finishes 4th = Clarke must finish 7th or better

Westwood finishes 3rd = Clarke must finish 3rd

Westwood finishes 2nd = Clarke must finish 2nd