FLEETWOOD CLOSER TO CLINCHING DUBAI TITLE
TOMMY FLEETWOOD targeted clinching the Race to Dubai by winning the final event this week, after stretching his lead at the top of the rankings in South Africa.
The world No.19 finished tied-10th at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, meaning only Major champions Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia can overtake him at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
And the 26-year-old from Southport insisted he will be under no pressure in the biggest week of his golfing career.
“It’s not a burden,” Fleetwood said. “I don’t feel stressed about it, I don’t feel anxious. I just think it’s great that I’ve got the chance to win it and a good chance.
“And as much as it depends on what they do, it is in my hands. I can take it out of everybody’s hands but we’ll see. “I’m very proud of the year overall. We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully I can come back on Sunday and I’ve won both – the tournament and the Race to Dubai. “That would be great, wouldn’t it?” Fleetwood carded a final round 71 at Sun City to finish eight shots behind winner Branden Grace for a rare bit of good sporting news for South Africa this weekend.
The Bafana Bafana failed to reach the World Cup on Friday, while the Springboks were smashed 38-3 by Ireland on Saturday.
Grace’s final round 66 – aided by a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th – saw him beat overnight leader Scott Jamieson by a single shot.
Jamieson (above) was seeking to become the first Scotsman to win the competition in 21 years. But the 33-year-old Glaswegian could not find the form that saw him shoot a bogeyfree, five-birdie 67 in the third round.
Moments before Grace produced his monster putt on the 16th, playing partner Jamieson’s chip lipped out.
But he took huge encouragement from his second-place finish, saying: “I’ve played with some of the best in the world this week and proved I can compete.”
Grace said: “It’s a dream come true to win at Sun City and to win Africa’s major. It was a hard weekend for South African sports fans but this can put a couple of smiles on faces.”