Those who belittle the value of an order of merit chase may need to look away now. The Race to Dubai has never seemed more appropriately named, given the appealing pursuit likely to occur in the Middle East from Thursday. That two Englishmen are at the forefront of proceedings both adds allure and to the sense that the nation’s golfers – plus their recurring success – are not appropriately recognised at home.
If Tommy Fleetwood had any doubts regarding whether to play in this weekend’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, they were forcibly removed by the actions of Justin Rose. Back-to-back successes in China and Turkey moved Rose to within €200,000 of Fleetwood in the order of merit. Sergio García, who sits third, remains part of the equation but the Masters champion would need snookers in the final event of the season, the DP World Tour Championship on Dubai’s Earth Course.
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