David Howell column: In our game anyone can win and that’s why it’s great

Golf can be a curious sport at times, and that is what makes it such a great game in many people’s opinion. Take last week’s HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai for example – a world golf championship event played at the superbly presented Sheshan Golf Club.

The field was missing a few of the world’s top players for sure – no Phil Mickelson or Jim Furyk, no Jason Day or Justin Rose – but it did include Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson. All turned up and it was a top-quality field.

The course is a big one, with heavy rough and soft conditions: a big hitter’s paradise.

So, who won?

Well I’m sure by now you know the answer: Scotland’s Russell Knox – the last man to get into the field. In fact I am told that just a couple of weeks before entries closed he had not even entered – it took a few withdrawals and a phone call from the tour to mention that there was just the slightest chance he might scrape into the field, and hence it might be a good idea to enter.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the beauty of golf. It’s not how, it’s how many that counts. Accuracy often wins over power, and Russell’s win really did have the feeling of David beating Goliath. People get addicted to golf because nobody else can affect your game, you’re out there on your own trying to play your best game each time, and last week Scotland’s least known golfing star played his best golf and beat the best players in the world.

Watching him on the last green tapping in for the title, it was clear to see what a huge moment it was for Russell. Winning on the PGA Tour is a big thing, but I would like to think winning a World Golf Championship is another all together. It’s a hard thing to do, it’s stressful and it’s so easy to fall just short when it matters most.

His sense of satisfaction will be enormous, and deservedly so.

HSBC put on a great show as always, and it’s great news that they have just committed to support golf for the next five years. But one thing did strike me as I made my way around to finish in 30th place. I was lucky enough to play with Tiger Woods in the final round ten years ago, when Woods was in his prime – a global sports star – and with that came huge crowds and near hysteria to catch a glimpse of the great man.

Today’s greatest players still created a buzz for the crowds – I wouldn’t say hysteria, but the excitement was still palpable when they were ready to sign autographs – but the numbers just were not the same. Tiger brought a non-golfing crowd to events, and as we watch the new stars play some golf that only Tiger could have matched, it’s apparent that collectively the world’s best players don’t quite create the buzz that Tiger did. The last two decades were amazing times for the golfing world, the future is bright, but as time moves on I think we will look back and remember just how special those years were.

Back to the present though and, although a US Tour player took the spoils in Shanghai, it was Danny Willett who came away from Sheshan as the happiest European Tour player. Trying his best to catch Rory in the Race to Dubai rankings, the Yorkshireman shot 62 on Sunday to finish in third place and nudge himself within a few euros of top spot. What an incredible round of golf that was, never mind in the circumstances. With Rory missing this week’s BMW Masters, also in Shanghai, there is a high probability that Danny will lead the way once we all land in Dubai.

This is a tantalising prospect for the Tour: a genuine fight in Dubai for the title is just what the tour would script if it could. A rising star versus just about the world’s best player – it could be a thrilling final day if all goes to order.

Mind you, Justin Rose asked for an invite this week after changing his schedule to try and have a pop at being number one, and a win in Shanghai would put him right in the mix. In fact, that would probably be the dream scenario if you could script things, but – as Russell Knox proved – playing to the script is a thing golf doesn’t do often.

I myself am looking forward to this week’s challenge. Lake Malaren can be quite a course, with the wind whipping across the fairways, but I fancy my chances of playing well this week. A new M1 from TaylorMade is in the bag, the swing was in great shape during the Tuesday Pro Am and I am raring to go.

I’ve yet to have a big finish in a final series event and now would be a great time to start. My goal is to finish in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai, signalling my best year for a decade. Right now I am in 24th, one place ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez – the man who’s proved that your golfing life can begin at 40.

Miguel has shown better than anyone that it’s possible for the oldies to keep pace with the big-hitting youngsters.

Now for my turn, perhaps.

Tagged David Howell, Russell Knox