After a disappointing opening round yesterday Tommy Fleetwood bounced back with a superb 65 as he regained the lead in the European Tour Race to Dubai rankings.
Fleetwood’s seven-under second round at the DP World Tour Championship, the final event of the season, sees him edge ahead of his rival Justin Rose as each battle to end the year as Europe’s No. 1 golfer. Just 15,280 points split the duo in the projected Race to Dubai rankings.
Rose followed up his opening day 66 with a 70 today to leave him joint third on eight-under with two rounds left to play in Dubai. Fleetwood has a share of 11th place, two shots back on six-under.
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Overall, the tournament leader at the halfway stage is 2016 winner Matt Fitzpatrick. The defending champion takes a one-shot lead into tomorrow’s third round after a second consecutive 67. He’s on ten-under, one shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton.
With the Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship titles set to be decided this weekend, it promises to be a fascinating final 36 holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Fleetwood knew he had to shoot a low score today and was pleased with his second-round performance. He said: “There’s still a tournament to play for and there’s still a Race to Dubai to play for. So there are two things going on and you’ve just got to concentrate on one, which is kind of each day as it comes and try and do your best in the tournament.
“But I needed a low one today for sort of both purposes,” he said. “The only thing that you can control is the tournament in a way. Race to Dubai, I can’t do anything about the maths or what Justin does or anything.
“So the sole focus was to try to get back into this event today. I knew I needed a low one.”
Race to Dubai permutations: who can finish European No. 1?
- Tommy Fleetwood: he will win the Race to Dubai providing he equals or betters Justin Rose’s result. If Rose finishes outside the top five and Sergio Garcia fails to win, Fleetwood will be crowned European No. 1 regardless.
- Justin Rose: he can win the Race to Dubai with victory this week and must finish at least solo fifth to have any chance. If Fleetwood doesn’t win, solo second will be good enough for Rose.
- Sergio Garcia: the Spaniard must win and hope that Fleetwood finishes outside the top 11 and Rose finishes solo fourth or worse.
