CLASH OF THE TITANS
Three top players are in with a chance but odds are stacked against Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard sees only two per cent possibility of him racing ahead for the Race to Dubai title as 60 top golfers tee-off for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estate’s The Earth course on Thursday.
Garcia has not won the Race to Dubai title but technically, he could win. The Spaniard, however, does not fret over the probabilities and would rather go and give his best for the Dubai event.
“I’m not expecting them (Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose) to finish 40th or 50th, to be totally honest. I see a two percent chance of me winning The Race to Dubai, but I’m fine with it. I can live with it. It’s been a great year, and that’s not going to change,” he said. Garcia started the Race to Dubai battle with a win in Dubai Desert Classic in February. He then ended his Major drought by clinching a play-off victory over Rose at Augusta in April.
Last month he added his third title of the European Tour by winning the Valderrama Masters. He is the only golfer to have won three titles this year.
The other two in the race — Fleetwood and Rose — have won two titles each this season but they have a much better chance of becoming European number one. The two appear to be in a better position when they tee off together. They can keep an eye on what each other need to do to stay ahead at least in the initial rounds. Both paid compliments to each other and indicated there won’t be any acrimony on the course, which is praised by most golfers on the European tour.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Rose, the 2007 Order of Merit winner, on the prospect of going toe-to-toe with Fleetwood.
“I played with Tommy in Turkey. I like playing golf with Tommy, I respect his game a lot. Love the way he swings the club. Feels like we get along well together,” the English golfer added.
“So there will be no rivalry or intimidation-type tactics tomorrow (Thursday),” Rose assured.
“It will be just the first round of four. Yeah, I mean, ultimately, the first round is about just putting yourself in position and not doing anything too bad, really. It’s about just playing good, solid golf,” he said.
“So my objective tomorrow is to go out there and try to hit good shots and enjoy playing well. I have been playing well, and just need to continue that momentum. That’s my goal for Thursday.”
Fleetwood is also looking forward to Thursday and sees nothing intimidating about being paired with fellow Englishman Rose in the first round. “No, it’s not -- I mean, the whole thing, it’s not like intimidating or it’s not even -- it’s not stressful in any way,” he stressed.
“It’s like, I mean, it’s obviously -not sure nervous is the right word, but it’s like the good kind of nerves where you’re trying to win the Race to Dubai. It’s not by no means a burden or any stressful,” he clarified.
“I think Justin, for me, has done a lot of things in his career that I would like to do. I mean, fair play for his golf recently. To win back-to-back, and those events, as well, is brilliant,” he said.
Rose, who is looking for a record third straight title on the European Tour, is well rested. With a course record to his name at The Earth, he seems to have an edge over fellow English compatriot for laying hands on the Harry Vardon Trophy come Sunday.