Compiled by Mark Garrod, Press Association Golf Correspondent

LEE WESTWOOD (Eng). Age: 36. Current position: 1. Money: £2,142,965. Events played: 24. Wins: 1 (Portugal Masters). Top 10s: 12.

The only one of this year's contenders to have won the Order of Merit before. That was nine years ago, but then came a slump from fourth in the world to outside the top 250. Now riding high again and came close to winning the US Open last year and Open this summer.

RORY McILROY (NIrl). Age: 20. Current position: 2. Money: £2,096,338. Events played: 23. Wins: 1 (Dubai Desert Classic). Top 10s: 12.

Leading amateur at the 2007 Open and finished third in his second professional event. The Dubai win made him the second-youngest player ever to reach the world's top 20 - Sergio Garcia was six days younger - and by coming 20th on his Masters debut, 10th at the US Open and third at the US PGA the sky seems the limit.

MARTIN KAYMER (Ger). Age: 24. Current position: 3. Money: £2,078,768. Events played: 19. Wins: 2 (French Open, Scottish Open). Top 10s: 7.

Had just overtaken Paul Casey for the number one spot in August when he broke toes in a go-kart crash. Finished second in his first event back last month and had underlined his star potential when winning the French and Scottish titles back-to-back in July. Beat Westwood in a play-off for the first of those.

ROSS FISHER (Eng). Age: 28. Current position: 4. Money: £1,876,022. Events played: 21. Wins: 1 (Volvo World Match Play). Top 10s: 5.

What a 29th birthday it could be on November 22 - the last day of the Dubai World Championship. Despite scoring better in the majors than any other player this year (he led in all four at various points) Fisher was down in seventh place on the money list until winning the Match Play title at the start of this month.

PAUL CASEY (Eng). Age: 32. Current position: 5. Money: £1,794,937. Events played: 14. Wins: 2 (Abu Dhabi Championship, BMW PGA Championship). Top 10s: 5.

Second to Padraig Harrington on the 2006 money list after suffering food poisoning at the final event, Casey's bid to go one better was badly interrupted by a torn rib muscle this summer that kept him out for nearly three months. Suffered recurrence in his second event back, which made him doubtful for the Dubai decider.