ROSE ENJOYS A FAST START
Briton in strong position in Race to Dubai title
TALK about a day filled with drama in the desert. Showing the verve of a major champion and the confidence of a man who's won his last two events, Justin Rose shifted the tables spectacularly on Tommy Fleetwood with a first-round 66 in the DP World Tour Championship to become the new leader of the Race to Dubai with just three rounds to play.
The younger man, by stark contrast, displayed the nerves of a player unaccustomed to the rarefied air of trying to close out the Order of Merit. Fleetwood shot 73 and was simply thankful he has 54 holes to repair the damage.
At least he's not lost his Scouse sense of humour.
“I don't know how much longer Justin is going to keep playing flawless golf but I wish he'd stop because he's doing my head in,” said Fleetwood.
Do first rounds at golf tournaments get any better than this? Watching Fleetwood at times was so excruciating you wanted a sofa to hide behind.
The last player out of the 60 competing to reach the first tee, the 26-year-old became the only one to walk off the green with a double bogey.
All those dreams of a stately walk to the biggest honour of his career, dashed by one of the worst holes he's played all year.
Fleetwood recovered manfully from being three over after three with a marvellous eagle at the par five 7th but the mistakes kept coming.
“I just gifted shots away,” he lamented.
Watching Rose at close to his mighty best didn't help, of course. He barely missed a shot all day and was blessed with fortune as well, as a beautifully played bunker shot at the 14th trickled into the hole for an eagle three of his own.
The 37-year-old began knowing he needs to finish in the top four to have any chance of toppling Fleetwood and stands second behind American Ryder Cup hero, Patrick Reed.
“I was conscious of needing a fast start and I certainly got that,” said Rose.
"I have to put the scenarios out of my mind an just win the tournament.
"I'm really happy because I wanted to come out with good intent. I don't think I missed a green, apart from the 17th when I was just off the edge." A great day ended with plenty of debate for the 19th hole. Will it help Fleetwood that he's no longer got a target on his back?
He's certainly in need of a low one on Friday to prevent the weekend becoming a discomforting experience where his fate is removed from his hands, and he's reduced to hoping Rose slips up.