Racing to the finish

Ian Poulter showed coolness under pressure to hold off all challengers and take the penultimate title of the season at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The 34-year-old, who narrowly missed out at last week's Barclays Singapore Open, closed with a three under par 67 to finish with a 22 under par aggregate of 258. That was one clear of compatriot Simon Dyson and Italy's Matteo Manassero but, in truth, the Ryder Cup star never looked like relinquishing the advantage he held since the second round.

Manassero's eight under 62 confirmed the teenager's outstanding talent, while American, Anthony Kang, took fourth ahead of Graeme McDowell - who having been second overnight will be disappointed not to have made a bigger dent in Martin Kaymer's Race to Dubai lead.

Poulter dropped his first shot of the tournament at the third hole but quickly dismissed any signs of a collapse by picking up three birdies before the turn. An eagle at the 13th then gave the World Match Play winner some breathing space and he could even afford to bogey the final hole after finding the bunker.

It was Poulter's 10th European Tour victory of his career and moves him back inside the world's top 10 as well as increasing his Race to Dubai earnings to £1.7 million (BD 1,029,841) - his highest ever.

US Open Champion McDowell now switches his focus to the Dubai World Championship this week where he hopes to be crowned Europe's Number One if he can overhaul current Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer, having reduced his arrears to 214,222 euros (BD110,998).

McDowell will have his work cut out with the 25-year-old German having been in phenomenal form since his amazing US PGA Championship win, adding the KLM Dutch Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship titles to his Major success. Kaymer also won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship at the start of the year to underline his consistency throughout the entire season.

The second edition of the Race to Dubai has been even more exciting than the first; the performances of McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and World Number One Westwood - not to mention the likes of the Tour's youngest ever winner, 17-year-old Matteo Manassero; or the oldest player to win three events in one season, the 46-year-old Miguel Angel JimŽnez have given us all some memorable moments in 2010.

But it is what Kaymer has managed to achieve in a truly memorable year that could yet see him take that coveted World Number One spot from his Ryder Cup partner Westwood as the second Race to Dubai nears its climax.

So, after 48 tournaments played at 26 destinations worldwide it all comes down to the Dubai World Championships this weekend. Can Lee Westwood get his injured leg through it and defend his title? Will it be Kaymer or McDowell celebrating on Sunday evening as the Race winner and European Number One?

72 holes of drama, birdies, bogeys, ups and downs over the magnificent Earth Course will sort it all out - golf, how it should be!