The financially-challenged European Tour has busted its hump to get into the business of big money purses.
Enter the Rolex Series. This week’s stop is one of them, huge purse — $7.5 million Euros and the next-to-last event before next week’s finale to determine the Race To Dubai winner.
Only problem is that the top players in the Race To Dubai are choosing to skip this event hosted by Gary Player in Sun City Center, South Africa.
Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are the top three on that list and they’re saving their energy for next week at the Dubai World Championship.
Biggest names in this field? Easily, it’s Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and last week’s runner-up (choker) Haotong Li.
McIlroy has failed to win this season on the European Tour and he’s pretty far down in the Race To Dubai points list — a lowly eighth, just ahead of Li, who three-putted in the playoff last week to hand Justin Rose the title at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Two Americans are high on that Race To Dubai points list. Masters champion Patrick Reed is fourth while Xander Schauffele is fifth.
European Ryder Cuppers Thorbjorn Olesen and Alex Noren are sixth and seventh followed by McIlroy, Li and Eddie Pepperell.
Defending champion this week at Sun City is Brandon Grace.
