KEY POINTS:
Red-hot New Zealand golfer Mark Brown has received a rich reward for his double triumph in India.
Brown will tee off in the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Florida starting next Tuesday courtesy of his rapid rise into the top 10 of the European Tour Order of Merit.
The 33-year-old has climbed to sixth on that money list with 332,808 euros ($657,723) thanks to twin successes within a week in New Delhi - the inaugural Sail Open followed by the Johnnie Walker Classic.
He could now boost his bank balance considerably at one of the world's richest tournaments, with US$8 million ($10.3 million) up for grabs at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.
Brown said on his website that it would be his maiden tournament in the United States.
"Teeing up with Woods, Els, Scott et al in sunny Florida is a long way from the sheep trampled greens of Ekatahuna," he noted.
Having finished 26th at the Malaysian Open which finished on Sunday, Brown has risen four more places in the world rankings to 60.
He pulled out of this week's Ballentine's Championship, the first European Tour tournament to be played in Korea, to concentrate on preparing for the US PGA and European Tour co-sanctioned event
He was to spend most of this week in Auckland with fiancee Helen.
Claiming the first prize of US$1.35 million in Florida will be the biggest challenge in golf at the moment due to the presence of world No 1 Tiger Woods, who is unbeaten in any event since September.
Woods has won the WGC-CA Championship seven times, including the last four, on six different golf courses.
Brown is on a high, with his success in the Johnnie Walker Classic earning him exempt status on the European Tour until the end of 2010.
The tall Wellingtonian is less than 18 months into a comeback after he gave golf away altogether in 2003 following eight years of difficulty making his way as a professional.
European Tour Money List
British unless stated
1. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 820,446 euros ($1.6 million)
2. Lee Westwood 581,766
3. Martin Kaymer (Germany) 441,988
4. Adam Scott (Australia) 374,078
5. Ross Fisher 353,927
6. MARK BROWN (New Zealand) 332,808
7. Vijay Singh (Fiji) 330,929
8. Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 315,239
9. Ernie Els (South Africa) 311,252
10. Shivshankar Chowrasia (India) 286,883
- NZPA
