Tag: Race to Dubai

Matt Wallace shoots 60 at DP World Tour Championship, birdies every hole on back nine

“I mean, 60 out here, that’s ridiculous.”

It was a special round for Matt Wallace on Saturday at the DP World Tour Championship.

The 32-year-old from England shot 12-under 60 in the third round at the DP World Tour Championship, moving into the lead by one shot with 18 holes to play at Jumeirah Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Wallace, who has four DP World Tour wins in his career, leads Viktor Hovland, the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, and Tommy Fleetwood by one shot.

Wallace’s round was special, marked by nine straight birdies on the back nine to shoot 27 and card a 60, the lowest round on the DP World Tour this season.

2023 DP World Tour Championship
Matt Wallace of England walks to the 18th green during Day Three of the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 18, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

“What a day, an amazing day,” Wallace said. “Just tried my hardest to get myself back into the tournament. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to do that. Played great.

“Again at the end, I didn’t even think there was a 59. Honestly I think it helped me a little bit. I just played nicely coming down the stretch, just keep getting one more if I could and I managed to do that.”

Wallace’s eagle chip on the 18th hole came up just short of the hole, however, a closing birdie to cap the stellar back nine was a feather in the cap of the best round of Wallace’s life. With a win Sunday, he would win his first Rolex Series title, even though Rory McIlroy has captured the Race to Dubai, the DP World Tour’s season-long points race, for the fifth time.

Hovland and Fleetwood matched 66s on Saturday, continuing their trend from the first two days after matching 69s and 66s the first two days.

Even the FedEx Cup champion was impressed with Wallace’s day.

“That’s ridiculous,” Hovland said. “You know, it played easier today, not a lot of wind. Greens were soft. But the greens are very grainy. It’s hard to make putts. On some of the pin locations, like 17, for example, I don’t know, that’s a tough one to get close to. So there is a lot of good pins. And yeah, I mean, 60 out here, that’s ridiculous.”

Twilight 9 podcast: Tiger Woods is swinging a golf club again, Talor Gooch and Collin Morikawa win, the Match V, and tons more

It’s so good to have Tiger Woods back in the mix.

For a week that doesn’t have a PGA Tour event, there’s a lot to talk about.

First things first, Talor Gooch grabbed his first PGA Tour win at the RSM Classic this weekend. His worst round of the week was a 67; he was absolutely dialed in.

Collin Morikawa chased down 54-hole leader Rory McIlroy to win the DP World Tour Championship, while also capturing the European Tour’s year-long Race to Dubai, the first American to do so. The guys discuss if he’s a Hall of Famer already.

Rory McIlroy, out of frustration, ripped his shirt after his final round in Dubai. The photo should be hung in the Louvre.

Jin Young Ko hit 63 consecutive greens on her way to winning the CME. 63!

The Match V is this week between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. We can guarantee one thing: It’s going to be cringy.

Finally, Tiger Woods dropped a three-second swing video and may have won the PIP with one tweet. He’s back. He’s going to play soon. Unbelievable.

Download this week’s episode here:
Apple
Spotify

Listen here:

Follow the guys on Twitter:
Riley
Andy

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Lee Westwood claims third career Race to Dubai; Matthew Fitzpatrick carries off DP World Tour title

Lee Westwood carried off the European Tour’s Race To Dubai for the third time in his career. Matthew Fitzpatrick won the season finale.

Lee Westwood carried off another European Tour honor on Sunday by landing atop the European Tour Order of Merit for the third time in his career. Westwood, 47, first collected the honor 20 years ago.

Westwood clinched it this time on the strength of a runner-up finish at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the European Tour’s season finale. He fired a final-round 68 and finished one shot behind winner Matthew Fitzpatrick, just 26.

It was a bit of a wild finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. A number of players were in the mix to win the title, including Patrick Reed, who was also aiming to become the first American to win the European Tour money title. Reed, however, dropped shots at Nos. 16 and 17. Likewise, Laurie Canter made a double-bogey on No. 17, clearing the way for Fitzpatrick to win the DP title with a par on 18.

It’s his second victory in this event, which he also won in 2016.

SCORES: DP World Tour Championship

Even though Fitzpatrick won the event, Westwood arguably won the day. The Englishman’s year began with a win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, his 25th European Tour title and the one that made him the first active player to win in four decades.

His previous two Harry Vardon trophies came in 2000 and 2009.

“It’s been 20 years since I sat there at Valderrama and finished second in the American Express Championship to win the Volvo Order of Merit as it was back then,” he said. “I won here in 2009 to win the Race to Dubai and now I’ve finished second to win it today.

“They have all been very different. I guess 2000, sort of I was winning a lot, but I was still up and coming. It was only my seventh year on Tour. 2009, I was honing in on the best player in the world spot, and I needed to win here to win the Race to Dubai, and I managed to do that.

“And then this one, I’m kind of the more mature player on the European Tour now. It wasn’t something I set out to do at the start of the year, but it shows the consistency I’ve shown. The motivation’s never changed, really. I get to get up each day and do the job I love. I’ve always wanted to be a golfer and I don’t want it to end.”

The Race to Dubai title suddenly opens up the possibility that Westwood might qualify for the Ryder Cup, pushed back from 2020 to 2021 because of the COVID pandemic. It would be his 11th appearance as a player after serving as a vice captain in 2018.

“I’d love to play again, obviously,” he said. “It beats watching. There’s obviously a lot less pressure watching the lads being Vice Captain.

“If I qualify for the team then I’m clearly good enough, and that’s the way I’m going to play it. I can still turn up to the biggest tournaments and compete as I proved at the start of the year in Abu Dhabi; the U.S. Open where I bogeyed the last two holes and, if I hadn’t, I’d have finished fifth, and here.”

[lawrence-related id=778080242,778080093,778079206]

Patrick Reed stays atop crowded leaderboard in Dubai; European Tour’s $3M prize within reach

Patrick Reed is 18 holes away from a $3 million bonus, but he insists he’s not thinking about it.

Patrick Reed is 18 holes away from a $3 million bonus, but he insists he’s not thinking about it.

Reed was good, but not great in the third round of the DP World Tour Championship, shooting a 71 to stay in the lead at Jumeriah Golf Estates. Others joined the party atop the leaderboard, however, as Matt Fitzpatrick fired a 69 on Saturday and Laurie Canter went one better. All three now sit at 11 under after three rounds.

Reed, the 2018 Masters champ, is hoping he can become the first-ever American winner of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

He said after the round that he’s trying to maintain his focus on this week and not the year’s body of work.

DP World Tour Championship: Leaderboard

“I’m trying not to really think about that [Race to Dubai victory] honestly,” said Reed. “If it happens, it would be unbelievable. It was always a goal of mine obviously to win golf tournaments but to win this one and also to win the Race to Dubai and be the first American would be amazing.

“We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. We still have a full 18 holes left and you can’t really sit back there and think as much about that as just stay in the present and try to play some good golf tomorrow.”

Four players are a stroke off the lead and there are some big names lurking — Lee Westwood, Viktor Hovland, Robert MacIntyre and Adri Arnaus are all 10 under.

[lawrence-related id=778080093,778079931]

Jon Rahm moves to front of Race to Dubai grid

Rahm seeks to become the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros in 1991 to hold the Harry Vardon Trophy as European No. 1.

[jwplayer YgMwfjhX-9JtFt04J]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The 2019 Race to Dubai is taking more twists and turns than a Formula 1 race. It took another one when Jon Rahm moved to the front of the grid after the third round of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Rahm sits in joint first on 15 under after a 6-under 66 in the third round. He’s tied with France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera, who shot a 3-under 69.

Rory McIlroy is in solo third on 13 under after a bogey-free 65. Tommy Fleetwood played the Earth course in 70 strokes to sit fourth.

Arizona State grad Rahm is now predicted to finish the season at the top of the European pecking order. Friday it was Fleetwood who was destined to replace current incumbent Bernd Wiesberger as European No. 1. The Austrian sits T-24 on 2 under, and is now predicted to finish second on the Race to Dubai.

Rahm skipped the previous two tournaments so he could spend time with fianceé Kelley Cahill before their wedding at Christmas. Many thought that might have ruined his chances of overhauling Wiesberger at the top of the Race to Dubai.

Few would bet against Rahm producing the win Sunday to become the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros in 1991 to hold the Harry Vardon Trophy as European No. 1. Rahm won this tournament in 2017.

“Gives me goose bumps to think about that,” Rahm said. “I’ve said it many times, as a Spanish player, as a Spaniard, any time you join or you have the chance to put your name on a list where there’s only one name and that name is Seve, it’s pretty impactful. It’s really emotional for all of us.

“To think not even Sergio (Garcia) or Miguel Ángel (Jimenez) or Ollie (Jose Maria Olazabal) or many other great players couldn’t get it done. It’s hard to believe that I have the chance to be the second.”

Lorenzo-Vera would have the lead on his own if not for a three-putt bogey on the par-5 18th for the second day in a row. The Frenchman put his tee shot into the stream that runs up the center of the 18th fairway, found the green with his third but then needed three putts to finish the hole.

Lorenzo-Vera is chasing his first European Tour victory after 12 years as a Tour member.

“You don’t control anything except your mind,” the 34 year old said. “That’s the only thing you can control tomorrow, so I just hope for the same game plan and let’s see if golf wants to give me something.”

McIlroy took pride in bouncing back from 2-over 74 in round two to get back into contention, and then went into philosophical mode.

“That’s what life is all about,” McIlroy said. “It’s learning from what you do and being of a present mind so that you can learn as you go. I sort of figured out what I did wrong yesterday, and I was able to rectify it somewhat today and get myself back in the tournament.”

McIlroy has won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai twice. He’s aiming for a career first: he’s never won the same tournament three times.

“It’s nice to come back to courses that you’re familiar with. That brings its own advantages. It would be nice. It’s been a great year so far and this is my last event. It would be wonderful going into the break to finish on a high.”

Just to thicken the plot even more, Fleetwood can still win the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years with a win. This Race is far from over.

[lawrence-related id=778013177,778013165]

 

Rory McIlroy falters, Tommy Fleetwood takes Race to Dubai lead

The second round of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai didn’t go according as planed for Rory McIlroy.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The second round of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai didn’t go according to plan. Rory McIlroy hasn’t run away with the tournament and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger is no longer in pole position to finish the season as European No. 1.

After a stellar opening 64, McIlroy began in the final group trailing first round leader Mike Lorenzo-Vera by just a shot. Few would have backed the Frenchman to outplay the World No. 2, but that’s just what Lorenzo-Vera did. By five shots.

The 34-year-old from Biarritz returned a 3-under 69 to move to 12 under and a three-shot lead. McIlroy slumped to a 74 and lies in equal fifth. Fleetwood played the Earth course in 68 shots to lie joint second place with Jon Rahm on 9 under. Fleetwood is now projected to finish above Wiesberger on the Race to Dubai.

Signs that Rory’s round wouldn’t match his first came at the par-3 sixth when his tee shot found water. He scraped a shot back at the next with a birdie, but then bogeyed the 10th and 13th holes.  A birdie at the 14th helped.

“I obviously didn’t quite have it today,” McIlroy said. “The putts that went in yesterday sort of went over the edges today.

“I didn’t actually know the rough was as bad is it was. I was hitting it in the fairway all week. Then I hit it in the rough today and realized it was a bit more difficult.

“It’s a very fickle game, one day it can seem very easy and then someone up there says ‘not so fast’, and brings you back down to earth. That’s golf. I battled through it and I’m still in with a shout to have a go at winning this tournament.”

Lorenzo-Vera is the stereotypical journeyman. He looked like he could make an impact on the European Tour when he won the 2007 Challenge Tour Order of Merit. However, he’s made four unsuccessful trips to the Qualifying School since then.

Lorenzo-Vera’s best European Tor season came in 2017 when he placed 35th on the Race to Dubai. He’s had three runner-up finishes, including this year’s Estrella Damm NA Andalucia Masters, but he’s still looking for his first European Tour win.

Victory this week would result in a $3 million pay day. The Frenchman knows exactly what he’ll do with the money.

“Last night I was trying to get it out of my head but it did not want to so I accepted and went on to the internet to see what car I’d buy if I won,” he said. “And it would be a Ferrari f12 TdF.”

Wiesberger returned a 1-under 71 and is tied for 13th spot. He is now projected to finish second on the Race to Dubai to Fleetwood, who is seeking to finish a season as European No. 1 for the second time following 2017. He was second to Francesco Molinari last year, and knows what it’s like to run this race.

“I feel very ready at the moment, feel very prepared for the scenarios that get thrown at you,” Fleetwood said. “I’m also very used to it. This is the three years in a row where I’ve been I’m in this situation.

“When I tee off tomorrow, I know what feelings to expect. I have a lot of experience in what to do, so it’s got to help.”

[lawrence-related id=778013102,778012847,778012833]

Tommy Fleetwood found consistency, but is still looking for more wins

Tommy Fleetwood has reached a level of consistency few European Tour players achieve in this frustrating game. Alistair Tait explains why.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Tommy Fleetwood might not win the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of this week’s $8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. However, he’ll head home for a long break content in the knowledge he’s reached a level of consistency few European Tour players achieve in this frustrating game.

The Englishman lies second on the Race to Dubai. He trails Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger by 722.8 points in the battle to finish European No. 1. The 28-year-old made a good start in his fight to unseat Wiesberger from the No. 1 spot. He returned a 5-under 67 to the 34-year-old’s 70. Fleetwood lies fourth while Wiesberger is T-14.

The pair played the opening round together, and Fleetwood laid down an immediate marker by holing out his 9-iron second shot for an eagle two on the par-4 first hole.

“I hit two great shots and then thought I’ve got a bit of time now before my second tee shot,” said Fleetwood, who won last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge to put himself in contention to finish the season as European No. 1 for the second time in three years. He was first in 2017 and runner-up to Francesco Molinari last year. “It’s a perfect time for it to happen because if you get off to a perfect start you know you’ve got 71 more holes to build on it.

“You can only play your way out of it on day one. There’s a lot to do. There’s 54 more holes to play and some great players up there. All I can do is do my stuff. I’ve got three days of work left until the end of the year. Just make the most of them. Stay very present and keep doing my best on every golf shot and see how we can get on. I’d love to be up there come Sunday but we’ve got a lot to do.”

If trophies were being handed out for consistency, however, then Fleetwood should be considered for the Player of the Year. He’s made 41 cuts in a row coming into this week. He hasn’t had a weekend off since last year’s French Open. “And I only missed there by a shot,” he proudly proclaims.

“It’s a great run and something you should give yourself a pat on the back for. I’ve been saying for a while that I’d give up a couple of cuts for a win or two. I’ve got that now and just need to build on it.

“I pride myself on trying to prep well and having an all-round game, and for a while now I’ve been very consistent. I’d like to keep it going, but I’m ultimately trying to reach the upper echelons of the game and win tournaments. That’s what I’ve got to do. I’ve given myself an unbelievable platform from which to build on.”

[lawrence-related id=778012841,778012833,778012715,778012655]

Still all-square in European Tour Rookie of the Year race

Robert MacIntrye leads Kurt Kitayama by just 90.6 points in the rookie race as the final European Tour event of the season begins in Dubai.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – You’d think a guy who lives in Las Vegas would like the odd wager or six, but Kurt Kitayama has no side bet with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre on who wins the race to become European Tour Rookie of the Year for 2019.

Pity, because it’s one of the most exciting sprints for best newcomer in European Tour history. And it didn’t change one inch after the opening round of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the final event of the 2019 season.

MacIntrye leads Kitayama by just 90.6 points in the rookie race. MacIntyre lies 11th on the Race to Dubai while Kitayama is 12th. They played together in the opening round and both shot 1-under 71s.

“We don’t have any bets,” Kitayama said. “We’re both just doing our own thing. I just want to play well this week and see what happens. There’s no point thinking about Rookie of the Year. This is a good chance for me to play well and hopefully move closer to the World Top 50.”

The pair chatted together a few times during the round, but not about the rookie race. “We’ve gotten to know each other a little bit,” Kitayama added. “This is the third time we’ve played together in the last month.”

The former UNLV player birdied the last to match MacIntyre’s score.

“I just couldn’t get anything going early on, so I was happy to shoot under par and now I’ll try to improve the next three rounds.”

Kitayama can become only the third American following Brooks Koepka (2014) and Peter Uihlein (2013) to win the rookie title

MacIntyre is bidding to become the first Scot since Marc Warren in 2006 to become Rookie of the Year. Like Kitayama, he’s hoping good golf takes care of business.

“I don’t even worry if I’m being honest,” said MacIntyre when asked if he would keep a close eye on how Kitayama is doing. “He does his thing. My job is to win my battle. If I win every battle that I set myself, then the outcome will be irrelevant, and it will be what it will be. I can’t control what he does. I can only control myself. I’ve set myself goals. I set goals and I battle through them.”

The 2017 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup player wouldn’t reveal what his goals are this week. But Rookie of the Year certainly has to be the reward that goes with achieving those goals.

[lawrence-related id=778012833,778012715,778012659]

Rory McIlroy hits shot of the year to contend for third Dubai win

Rory McIlroy shot an 8-under 64 during the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship to trial Mike Lorenzo-Vera by one shot.

Rory McIlroy probably thought his world had collapsed in July when he missed the cut in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in front of his home fans. Turns out it was the kick in the butt he needed to take his game up a notch.

Make that several notches.

McIlroy is in contention to win the $8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai for the third time after an opening 8-under-par 64 thanks to seven birdies, an eagle and just one dropped shot. He trails Mike Lorenzo-Vera by a shot after the Frenchman returned a 63. However, McIlroy looks far and away the man to beat, especially after his approach shot to the par-5 18th.

The World No. 2 punctuated his round with a 290-yard 3-wood that finished six feet from the flag. McIlroy rolled in the eagle putt and then said: “It’s possibly the best shot I’ve hit all year. I’m looking forward to seeing it on TV later.”

McIlroy has been hitting a lot of good shots since shooting 79, 65 at Royal Portrush to miss the cut by a shot.

“Obviously after the 21st of July, or whenever the Open Championship finished, there was only a few things that were right there,” McIlroy said. “The FedEx Cup was right there and I was able to do that, and winning another World Golf Championship (the WGC-HSBC Champions) was cool. Since then I’ve achieved a few goals I set for myself.

“That was a difficult period (after the Open Championship) and I had to regroup and restart almost. But the golf I’ve played since Portrush has been some of the best I’ve ever played.

“Sometimes these experiences can be a really good thing for you, and the catalyst to being more motivated or learning. I’ve tried to learn from every sort of setback that I’ve had. I feel like I’ve done a good job with that, not just this year, but every year throughout my career.”

Portrush was such a catalyst that McIlroy feels like he’s swinging the club as well as he’s ever done.

“I’m hitting the ball where I’m looking. I feel like my swing is in as good a spot as it has been in a long time. Michael Bannon (his coach) and I have worked hard on that. Somehow this year we’ve got it back to where we like it. It’s very repeatable. It’s as good as I’ve ever swung it, but then factor in the greens, the short game and I feel like I’ve got the whole package.”

The 30-year-old returned from China to find his wife, Erica, had installed a trophy cabinet in their new home. Hopefully it has lots of space, because McIlroy is odds on to lift a third DP World Tour Championship, Dubai trophy.

[lawrence-related id=778012715,778012659,778012657]

Bernd Wiesberger on verge of making golf history in Dubai

Austrian golfers are not supposed to do what Bernd Wiesberger is doing as the 2019 European Tour season ends.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Let’s be honest, Bernd Wiesberger wouldn’t have topped most lists to end 2019 as European Tour No. 1. Austrian golfers just don’t do that.

This one can, and make history in the process.

The 34-year-old Vienna native is in pole position to end the season as winner of the Race to Dubai and lift the Harry Vardon Trophy. Wiesberger has a 722.8-point lead over Tommy Fleetwood at the top of the points list, with Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry and Matthew Fitzpatrick also in with a shout to end the year top of the European food chain.

Wiesberger can join greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari with another four good days.

Again, Austrian golfers are not supposed to do this.

Wiesberger has already put his country on the map with seven European Tour wins, three this season. He’s already Austria’s most successful golfer. However, aside from himself and former Vanderbilt player Matthias Schwab, most golf fans would struggle to name five Austrian Tour pros on the fingers of one hand.

Before Wiesberger came along, Austrian success was limited to players like Martin Wiegele, whose only European Tour win came in the 2010 St Omer Open, a bottom of the food chain event.  Marcus Brier won twice in the noughties and now plays on the European Senior Tour.

That’s four of those five fingers with prizes to anyone who can name a fifth Austrian Tour pro without using a search engine.

That’s not to deride Austrian golf. After all, we’re not talking a strong golf nation. According to a recent 2018 KPMG participation report, there are just 160 courses in the entire country, and only 108,733 registered golfers.

“It would be a first, obviously,” Wiesberger said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t had an Austrian winner of the Race to Dubai or the overall ranking at any point. Personally, it would be obviously a huge achievement for me after growing up watching European Tour golf and watching legends like Seve, Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie who won so many times in a row at the time when I started getting into golf. It’s something that looked a long distance away, but obviously much closer now.

“I’m very, very lucky right now in Austria with not only myself playing well this year but also Matthias doing a great job, and almost catching a couple titles this year. Yes, good times for Austrian golf.”

Wiesberger will be worthy of the European number one title if he does go on to finish atop the Race to Dubai. A wrist injury caused him to miss the end of last season, yet he has three 2019 victories. He moved back to the top of the Race to Dubai when he won the Italian Open in October. He has led the title race ever since.