Morikawa raises stakes in title race
Break helps American’s chase of Harry Vardon Trophy counts cost of double bogey on last hole to slip back
⮞lucky
⮞mcilroy
Rory Mcilroy is the darling of this sizeable expats crowd and none of them would have wanted to see the Northern Irishman concede the halfway lead in the DP World Championship with a double bogey up the 18th. Yet, as silver linings go, this was precious indeed because that seven on the par five means that he is paired with Collin Morikawa in the third round.
Europe’s greatest major winner of his generation versus the reigning Open champion – this truly promises to be a mouthwatering prospect in the desert. Even Mcilroy was able to see the positive of his partnership today after his negative conclusion.
“Yeah, it will be good to play with Collin,” he said, after falling back to nine under. “I’m playing nicely and, despite that mistake on the last [where he hit his third into the water guarding the green], I still feel like I performed well. I think 70 is the worst score I could have shot today. Hopefully that’s the bad one out of the way.”
One behind the pacesetting trio of Ireland’s Shane Lowry (65), England’s Sam Horsfield (66) and American John Catlin (65), Mcilroy remains the favourite on a course where he has won twice before. However, in the Race to Dubai standings – the tournament within the tournament – Morikawa must now be rated an odds-on shot, if not quite a certainty.
History beckons for the 24-year-old from Los Angeles. In the 84-year existence of the
Harry Vardon Trophy – the silverware handed to the winner of the order of merit – no United States player has yet to prevail. Morikawa came into this season-ender at the head of the standings and with nearest pursuer Billy Horschel in a tie for 43rd on level par in this 53-man field, the threats are hardly lining up behind.
Tyrrell Hatton, Min Woo Lee, Matt Fitzpatrick and Paul Casey are the only other pros with a chance to leapfrog Morikawa to the $1million (£743,000) bonus and of that quartet, Fitzpatrick and Casey are best placed on five under. Yet, even if one of that English duo were to scoot home, they would still require Morikawa to fall away. And that simply does not look like happening after a second successive 68 took him to eight under.
“I’m aware of where I am with the Race to Dubai, but I’ve got to focus on the weekend,” he said. “I want to win this tournament. That’s all I care about.” If Mcilroy’s day was undone by an unlucky break – his drive on the 18th finished in the face of a bunker – then Morikawa’s was rescued by a piece of outrageously good fortune on the par-three 17th. His tee shot was destined for the lake before ricocheting off a yellow stake.