Fleetwood’s full circle as he returns to Hong Kong

Golf: Race to Dubai winner aims to kick-start another whirlwind year

Just four days after winning the Race to Dubai, Tommy Fleetwood returns to the place where his successful bid to become European number one began – in the Hong Kong Open.

Fleetwood finished third at Fanling 12 months ago, won in Abu Dhabi on his next start and also claimed victory in the French Open on his way to finishing just 58,821 points ahead of Justin Rose.

Former winner Rose and Sergio Garcia, who finished fourth in the Race to Dubai after fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, have also made the journey from Dubai to Hong Kong for the first event of the new season.

“New season, let’s go again,” Fleetwood said. “I found it amazing that I started the season here last year, 12 months ago, and then you were watching the last shot being played in the Race to Dubai to decide what happened.

“Even though it’s the new season we’re carrying on playing tournaments. This is the fifth week away now but we’ll keep working hard and keep doing the same things.

“When we do get a chance to sit down, we’ll have a look at what was good in 2017, what could be improved on and we’ll make sure that we make those adjustments and then look at goal-setting as well.

“The last few weeks of last season it was all about trying to win the Race to Dubai and it’s impossible to take your mind off that. It could have gone either way at the end and it was really

“It could have gone either way. It’s something I’ll have forever”

nice that it got completed and it’s something that I’ll have forever.”

Sam Brazel returns to the scene of his greatest triumph this week as he looks to defend his title in at Fanling.

The Australian arrived at Hong Kong Golf Club 12 months ago to play just his 17 th European Tour event at the age of 37 and sitting at 480th in the world rankings.

The next four days would prove to be life-changing as a birdie on the last from eight feet on Sunday handed him the title ahead of a chasing pack including then Masters champion Danny Willett, Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Tommy Fleetwood – who would go on to win the Race to Dubai.

That proved to be his only top 10 of the campaign but he made 18 out of 25 cuts to finish an impressive 67th in the Race to Dubai rankings, presented by Rolex, and he enjoyed his first full year on the European Tour.

He said: “It was a massive career change for me as that win allowed me to play in Europe and so many stunning golf courses around the world.

“It gave me the opportunity to reach some of my goals which include playing full-time on some of the major tours.

“It’s great to be back and the course is in fantastic condition. I’ll go out there and give it my best this week.”