Canter goes on a gallop as Reed stumbles

THE Race to Dubai has become a sprint to the finish with a leaderboard resembling a peloton going into the final round of the DP World Tour Championship today.

With 30 minutes of the third round to go, there was a seven-way tie for the lead before race leader Patrick Reed, Matt Fitzpatrick and unheralded Englishman Laurie Canter pulled a stroke ahead by birdieing the par-five 18th.

With one stroke separating so many players, it will need a special round to claim the £2.7million first prize, not to mention the £378,000 bonus for winning the season-long competition. Under the circumstances, perhaps the race winner will also be awarded a yellow jersey.

It would be quite something if Canter claimed his first pro victory. After living up to his name for his first decade as a pro, he has suddenly broken into a gallop. From 2011 to last year he made total earnings of around £350,000. Now look what he could earn in one afternoon.

Not for the first time this season, Canter, 31, delivered a round that made you wonder why it has taken him so long to break through. The long-hitter might still be best known not for his golf but for the oft-told fact he mixed in the same junior tennis circles as Andy Murray. He will be exceedingly glad he chose golf if he can somehow keep mind and soul together and follow yesterday’s fine 68 with another low one. ‘Looking at the other guys up there you’d have to say a win would change my life a lot more than it would change theirs,’ he said. ‘I’m going to have a good feed, a good night’s sleep and then see what I can do.’

Canter is currently 44th in the Race to Dubai, having never before finished in the top 150. ‘I honestly wish I had a smart answer to give you to explain it,’ he said. ‘I did a lot of reflecting during lockdown and have taken on a bit more responsibility but that’s about it.’

Reed began with a two-shot lead but it is clearly not easy trying to become the first American to win Europe’s Order of Merit. The 30-year-old Texan was being generous when he described his play as ‘sloppy’.

In reality, he escaped with a 71 thanks to some outrageous good fortune and his brilliant short game. His caddie thought his tee shots at the 17th and 18th had finished in the water but he got lucky both times and took full advantage to play those holes in one under.

By his side, Fitzpatrick had the opposite experience, with putts at the 14th and 15th that unluckily horseshoed out.

As for the quartet breathing down the necks of the leading trio, Scot Robert MacIntyre was named rookie of the year at this event 12 months ago and the 24- year- old lefty could now walk off with prizes even more s ubstantial . Gift ed Norwegian Viktor Hovland flew for 28 hours following his victory in Mexico last Sunday and is therefore chasing quite the double.

Then there is ageless Lee Westwood, bidding at 47 to become the oldest Order of Merit winner by five years. It should be some day.