Race to Dubai title would be ‘special’
I DON’T FEEL STRESSED ABOUT COMPETITION WITH ROSE, ENGLISHMAN FLEETWOOD SAYS
ommy Fleetwood remains confident of beating fellow Englishman Justin Rose to the Race to Dubai title this week, despite failing to secure the year-ending prize on Sunday.
Fleetwood needed to win the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City to wrap up the European Tour No. 1 title and deny Rose and four other rivals, but fell short of that goal with a final-round 71 to finish in a tie for 10th in South Africa.
But that was enough for the 26-year-old to almost double his lead over Rose to 256,737 points, after the former US Open champion elected not to compete in the penultimate event of the season.
Four other players in Sergio Garcia, fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm and the English duo of Tyrrell Hatton and Ross Fisher are all but out of contention for the $1.25 million (Dh4.6 million) bonus prize.
World No. 6 Rose only needs to finish sixth, if he is ahead of Fleetwood, in the 60-strong DP World Tour Championship field to secure the Race to Dubai spoils. “When I knew I couldn’t win [in South Africa], I played the last few holes because you know every shot is going to count towards the end of the year,” said Fleetwood.
“If (you) start trying to look at it and do all the maths it’s going to do your brain in.
“I have a long flight with a lot of time to spend doing nothing and a lot more time doing nothing, as well.
“So, I’ve got to try and take my mind off it but it is what it is. I’ve played brilliant all year and to be in with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai, it’s pretty special, really.
“It’s not a burden. 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.
Every shot counts
“Coming down the back nine when I didn’t have a chance to win and kind of scrapping for my life on a few holes and a few shots, you do know every shot counts.”
Masters champion Garcia, who did not contest the Turkish Airlines Open or the Nedbank Challenge, will arrive in Dubai knowing mathematically he could win the No. 1 title for the first time, but the 37-yearold would need both Fleetwood and Rose to finish near the bottom of the leader board.
Branden Grace’s recordbreaking round of 62 allowed him to clinch the Nedbank Golf Challenge by one shot, making a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to edge in front and become the first home winner at Sun City in a decade. Grace’s long putt at the par 3 put him one ahead of playing partner Scott Jamieson and two clear of Victor Dubuisson, who was also part of the final group. Grace made pars on the last two, tapping in on No. 18 for a 66 and his eighth European Tour title, and first since January 2016.
The Nedbank Challenge holds major-like prestige for South Africans, and Sun City hadn’t seen a local player win since Trevor Immelman in 2007.
On clinching victory, Grace raised his arms, closed his eyes, and celebrated with fellow South African players Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Fichardt.
There was also a big hug from Gary Player.
“I think this was probably the loudest applause I’ve ever received coming up the 18th hole,” said the 29-year-old Grace, who grew up a couple hours’ drive away in Pretoria. “It’s awesome. This is really the one I wanted to win. I grew up watching it.”
Race to Dubai
Pos Name Country Events Points 1. Tommy Fleetwood, England, 23, 4,235,987 2. Justin Rose, England, 11, 3,979,250 3. Sergio Garcia, Spain, 12, 3,184,582 4. Jon Rahm, Spain, 12, 2,898,457 5. Tyrrell Hatton, England, 20, 2,711,524 6. Ross Fisher, England, 22, 2,540,992 7. Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain, 18, 2,400,948 8. Alex Noren, Sweden, 19, 2,180,262 9. Branden Grace, South Africa, 14, 1,972,696 10. Francesco Molinari, Italy, 12, 1,947,067 11. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, 12, 1,832,091 (INJURED) 12. Matt Fitzpatrick, England, 22, 1,765,856 13. Henrik Stenson, Sweden, 14, 1,763,945 (INJURED) 14. Bernd Wiesberger, Austria, 25, 1,751,005 15. Paul Dunne, Ireland, 28, 1,620,925 16. Thomas Pieters, Belgium, 17, 1,559,859 17. Haotong Li, China, 21, 1,558,546 18. Peter Uihlein, USA, 21, 1,491,955 19. Alexander Levy, France, 23, 1,362,170 20. Dylan Frittelli, South Africa, 28, 1,322,106
Scotland’s Jamieson, the overnight leader, finished second at 10 under after a finalround 70. France’s Dubuisson also finished with a 70 and a shot further back in third.