With three major champions and six players from the top ten of the world rankings around the first 12 places in The Race to Dubai, the betting on who will be crowned Europe’s best is looking more competitive than ever before.

Martin Kaymer won US PGA Championship – and the German will be doubly determined to remain at the head of affairs after a go-karting accident he suffered this time last year effectively put pay to his hopes of becoming the first winner of The Race to Dubai.

THERE used to be certainties in life. The sun would rise and set, the British summer would be miserable and Tiger Woods would be the best golfer on the planet.

Two out of three ain’t bad, and the chase to become the world number one in golf has suddenly become a hot topic.

Woods used to be the safe bet. The odds used to reflect the fact that wherever Tiger played, Tiger won. Tiger used to be married, used to be happy, used to be a role model for young and old who dared to dream one day they would make that impossible golf shot.

The European Tour’s golfers return to south of Spain in October for the third staging of the Castello Masters and a bet on an unlikely winner to emerge from the pack could pay handsome dividends.

Golf’s European Tour is renowned as it casts its net far and wide with playing destinations spread across three continents and many of the game’s greats will be chasing their slice of history with a place at the top of the standings.

THE Dunhill Links championship is unique on golf’s European Tour and is considered one of the highlights of the campaign.

Contested at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course at St Andrews, the tournament is played as a pro-am over the opening three days with all the field playing all three courses. Following the final day cut, the event’s final round is played over the Old Course.