TOMMY STEEL
Fleetwood determined to end disappointing season on a high and prevent first US winner of the Race to Dubai
TOMMY FLEETWOOD will lead Europe’s challenge to stop a first American victory in the Race to Dubai this weekend – and arrest his own slide down the world rankings.
The Ryder Cup star has slipped down to world No. 16 and risks completing his first year since 2016 without a tournament win.
But the Everton fan has s the chance to save his season in style by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai i and f inishing the year as European No. 1.
Fleetwood starts the season’s finale in second pl ace b ehind Patri ck Reed ( right) and just in front of US PGA champion mpion Collin Morikawa.
World No. 7 Morikawa is the top ranked player in the field but only took affiliate membership of t h e Eu r o p e a n To u r i n February – and has played only on the other side of the Atlantic until today.
Morikawa i s in the running because Majors and WGCS count as European Tour events and the usual need to play an additional four regular European Tour events has been waived this year.
But Fleetwood, who won four out of his five matches in Paris in 2018 against the USA, insisted the two golf “superstars” will only add glamour to an event lacking Rory Mcilroy and Jon Rahm.
“Whoever wins the Race to Dubai will be a worthy winner,” said Fleetwood.
“Patrick has won a World Golf Championship this year, he’s been one of the most consistent players on the planet while Collin i s a Major winner.
“Both are clearly superstars. It’s good for the Tour that there’s Americans and superstars coming over and they are trying to win the Race to Dubai, no matter how many events they have played.
“I think it’s great for us, and it’s great to get to this stage and be competing against them.
“I don’t think it will do any harm whatsoever to have their names on the trophy. Obviously I’m planning on that not to happen, anyway.”
Fleetwood, who won the Race to Dubai in 2017, started 2020 with a tie for second place in Abu Dhabi but l ast year’s Open runner- up delayed his return to action on the PGA Tour because of quarantine restrictions
Asked to rate his season out of 10, the Southport- based star said: “Below five. I probably am being harsh on myself. I think I ’ve had a couple of seconds and a third on the European Tour.
“I don’t f e el l i ke I ’ v e done anything like I would have liked to this year. Might be below five at the moment but this week could easily ramp it up.”
Reed was second in the 2018 Race to Dubai and tops the rankings now after finishing in the top 13 at all three Majors and third at the BMW PGA at Wentworth.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be in this position,” said the Te x a n . “Fr o m wh e n e v e r I starte started coming to play on the European Tour it’s always been a dream of mine to win the Order of Merit over here. The only way you’re going to be able to do that is not just play well in the big events.”
Morikawa ( above), making his debut in a regular European Tour event, admitted he has struggled for form since his August US PGA win. “I was almost complacent,” said the Californian , 23. “I had three weeks off coming up until this week. I did a full reset. This is a very big tournament, a tournament I really want to win.”