Spaniards take a siesta in their bid to match Seve

TheY say the big three of Spanish golf are all desperate to become the first player from their homeland to top the order of merit — now known as the Race to dubai — since Seve Ballesteros won it for the sixth time in 1991. A lovely, romantic image, but sadly it is not one that squares with cold reality. Take Sergio Garcia, the man closest to the leader, Tommy Fleetwood, following his emotional win in the Andalucia Masters on Sunday. Garcia is certainly within striking distance but has no plans to play over the next three weeks, meaning he almost certainly will not be in with a good shout come the finale in dubai next month. Rafa Cabrera-Bello, currently sixth on the list, is so desperate to emulate Seve he didn’t bother playing in Spain last week or for the big bucks in italy the previous week either. instead he preferred to turn out in two PGA Tour events in the Far east instead. Which leaves Jon Rahm, the gifted rookie who is presently third. he will surely win it one day but is he prepared to bust a gut this year? Maybe if he wins the points-laden hSBC Champions event in Shanghai this week it will prompt a re-think, but right now he is another who plans to take a fortnight off thereafter to rest up for dubai. There is, of course, nothing wrong with the Spanish Armada dropping anchor after a busy time on the high Seas this year. But when it comes to showing desire to win the season’s final big prize, the truth of the matter is they offer little in comparison to england’s equivalent trio.

Fleetwood has the most to lose as the leader, of course, but not even the recent birth of his first child will prevent him from playing in the final four events staged in China, Turkey, South Africa and the Middle east, if that is what it takes.

Similarly, Ross Fisher in fourth, playing the best golf of his life, and fifth-ranked Tyrrell hatton, winner of his last two events, will put in the hard yards over the next month in an attempt to pip Fleetwood.

it is not for reasons of parochialism, therefore, that i hope one of the three englishmen claims the cherished harry Vardon Trophy in dubai. it is easy to say you would like to follow in the footsteps of Seve but it is actions that count.

And the english lads are showing just how much it would mean to them to put their names alongside the greatest Spaniard of all.