The contest to be crowned European Tour Number One will come down to the final day of the season but Henrik Stenson’s grip on the Race to Dubai title is tightening.
Stenson, at five under par, is in the driving seat to win the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex for a second time but it is not over yet with Alex Noren still harbouring hopes of top spot and the $1.25million bonus that goes with finishing Number One.
It’s a tall order for Noren but his target of a top two finish in the DP World Tour Championship is far from out of reach. Last week, in winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge, he came from six shots behind to win by six. Currently seven under par after a third round 69, he will have to repeat that sensational six-shot comeback tomorrow to catch Victor Dubuisson at the top of the leaderboard, or gain five shots on those ahead of him to have a chance of second place in the season-ending tournament.
If Noren wins, Stenson would need to finish runner up, or if Noren claims second, Stenson needs to finish inside the top eight to keep ahead of his fellow Swede and secure the Race to Dubai title.
“I've just got to go out and try to play a solid round tomorrow,” said Stenson after picking up five birdies in his last seven holes for a third round 70.
“I know if Alex finishes second on his own, I've got to be inside the top eight, so that's kind of the scenario that I'm trying to achieve.
“Obviously it's a long way for me to be second on my own in case he were to win. I've just got to keep at it and try and play a good round tomorrow, finish off the week, and we can start counting afterwards.”
Mathematically Rory McIlroy can still top the rankings but his race looks to be run as he needs to win and Stenson finish outside the top 45 to have any chance of retaining his Race to Dubai title for a third successive year. He would have to overturn an eight-shot deficit and overtake 20 other players to win and still hope Stenson drops well down the field to outside the top 45 from the same five under par mark.
Danny Willett’s hopes of finishing European Tour Number One effectively disappeared with a third round 76. Needing at least a top four finish to have any chance, the Masters Champion is well down the field in joint 51stplace.
I've just got to keep at it and try and play a good round tomorrow, finish off the week, and we can start counting afterwards - Henrik Stenson
The race for a slice of the $5million Bonus Pool will also come down to the final day at Jumeirah Golf Estates with leader Victor Dubuisson the latest to make a tilt at a top ten place. A win on Sunday could lift him 37 places on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex to tenth place which would secure him an additional $250,000 bonus.
The top ten on the Race to Dubai at the end of the season will share a $5million Bonus Pool with $1.25 million going to the Number One, down to $250,000 for tenth place.
In the battle for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, Jeunghun Wang entered the final event with a 190,937 point lead over Li Hoatong. Li would need at least a top seven finish to close the gap but Wang holds a shot lead over his rival and looks to be on course to take the award.
Forlive Predicted Race to Dubai Rankings click here
