It’s not a matter of who is leading at the DP World Tour Championship, it’s a question of how Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett started their first round on the Earth course at Jumeriah Golf Estates.
The first round of this four-day battle ended in a draw as the players ranked one-two in the points race both shot four-under par 68s to finish two shots back of the leaders.
Those leaders are Ian Poulter, Andy Sullivan, Marcus Fraser and Martin Kaymer, all in with 66s, six-under par for the first 18 holes of this European Tour finale and the determining event in the Race To Dubai.
It’s no longer a Race To Dubai, it’s the Race In Dubai.
McIlroy enters as the leader for the overall title with Willett ready and able to pounce. If Willett can beat McIlroy, he may take the title.
The day was perfect for scoring, hardly a wisp of wind on a golf course that may be one of the most perfectly manicured in the world.
McIlroy was in the midst of a nonchalant, ho-hum day when he bunkered his third shot, a short one, into the par five 18th. It looked for all intents and purposes that he’d par the hole and lose a shot to the leaders. But the world’s No. 3 holed his bunker shot for birdie to match Willett’s and trail the lead by just two.
None of the four leaders can win the overall title, even if they win the tournament but for Poulter, there is a lot to play for.
Poulter is trying to climb back into the top 50 in world rankings and in the process, rack up some much-needed points to make the European Ryder Cup team.
“There’s a lot at stake,” Poulter acknowledged. “I think more of it is probably pride than anything else.”
