If Patrick Reed is going to win the Race To Dubai, he’ll have to earn it as he’s now tied and surrounded by quality challengers heading into Sunday’s finale at the DP World Tour Championship.
Reed cooled off on Saturday. After just one bogey over his first 36-holes, he suffered two on the back nine on moving day and as a result, had to birdie the final hole to get into a three-way tie with Brits Matthew Fitzpatrick and Laurie Canter.
That trio was tied at 11-under after Reed shot 71, Canter 68 and Fitzpatrick 69.
Another four are a shot back at 10-under with European Tour veteran Lee Westwood (68) heading the group. Westy was joined by Viktor Hovland (66), Spain’s Adri Arnaus (67) and Scot Robert MacIntyre (66).
Sami Valmaki was by himself at nine-under with Danny Willett in at eight-under.
Fitzpatrick won the Race To Dubai in 2016 and may be the best candidate to stop Reed from becoming the first American to walk away with the Harry Vardon Trophy.
“The swing really felt consistent this morning in the warm-up, and it showed when I got out on the golf course,” Fitzpatrick said after his round. “This is a golf course I love. It’s a golf course I’ve played well around before. When scores are so low (at other venues) you can get away with errant tee shots and it becomes more of a putting competition but this course they’ve grown the rough in on the fairways and it’s as firm and fast as ever. I’ve been in the position before to win around here. Obviously I know what it takes. But at the same time it’s four years ago now. It’s just a long time ago, unfortunately. But things change, my game changes, different swing thoughts.”
As for Reed, he said he’s not thinking about the title. “I’m trying not to really think about that, honestly,” he said. “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 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.”
