FLEETWOOD BACK!
Tommy’s race with Rose is going right to the wire
AT THIS rate, the Race to Dubai might well come down to the final putt tomorrow. Tommy Fleetwood’s gutsy response to his first-round woes and a rare average effort from Justin Rose has seen the advantage swing back in favour of the younger man.
What a perfect scenario we have in place here in the desert this weekend as two of England’s finest go in search of the coveted Order of Merit title and two more — Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick — threaten a repeat of their compelling duel last year for the DP World Tour Championship.
No wonder the expat community and the tourists have turned up in considerable numbers here to revel in this special time for English golf.
Hatton might have shot a fine 63 but he will surely accept the round of the day belonged to Fleetwood, who was staring a lost weekend in the face if he shot another score akin to his opening 73.
Instead, he rebounded spectacularly with a 65 to cast aside any doubts that he has the character to go alongside his playing gifts.
The seven-shot difference on day one meant a four-hour discrepancy between their tee times, with Fleetwood wrapping up just four minutes before Rose teed off and making quite a statement.
‘I’d place it up there with the best rounds I’ve played all year, given what was at stake,’ said the 26-year-old.
It’s now so tight at the top that when Rose stood on the 18th tee he was still ahead, but a three-putt bogey meant he slipped behind Fleetwood by a mere 15,000 points.
When you think both men are on course to earn more than 4.3 million points for their season’s efforts, it underlines how slender that margin is.
As for the battle to win the final event, Fleetwood moved up 39 places to 11th, with Rose two strokes adrift of the leader Fitzpatrick and Hatton a shot adrift.
Asked if he minded playing second fiddle to the battle between Fleetwood and Rose for the other title on offer, defending DP champion Fitzpatrick, who shot a second 67, smiled. ‘I’ll be more than happy to stay under the radar all weekend if I end up keeping hold of my trophy,’ he said.
Former world No 1 Luke Donald was rushed to hospital on Thursday with chest pains, undergoing seven hours of tests.
‘All looks good with the heart, thankfully,’ said the 39-year- old Englishman later. He will not play again this year.