Spectacular showdown sees Rose pipped at the post
“What a week! What a year!” Tommy Fleetwood can say that again! After an inspired season, the 26-year old Englishman was crowned Europe’s Number One golfer for 2017 by winning the ‘Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex’.
“2017 will take some topping!”, he enthused in an interview with the European Tour in Dubai still dazed by his amazing achievement. He admitted that it had “not been on the agenda” to win the Race to Dubai at the start of the season. Yet after two tremendous victories (the HNA Open de France and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship) , three top-3 finishes and five top-10s in 24 events, he had to draw-up another game plan for the final showdown in Dubai.
When he arrived in the Jumeirah Golf Estates for the DP World Tour Championship, the last tournament on the European Tour’s calendar, Tommy Fleetwood was in pole position leading the Race to Dubai. The prestigious title was within his grasp.
The Englishman was in good shape until the weekend. It was his compatriot Justin Rose who made a charge to top the rankings after opening with three birdies in the first seven holes on Sunday. However, it was a Spanish rookie, the 23-year old Jon Rahm who kept his cool to eventually seize the DP WTC title in style at 19-under par.
After a nail-biting hour waiting for the final players to finish, Fleetwood could breathe a sigh of relief because Rose had slipped down to a share of 4th place in the DP World Tour Championship. And so it was, that despite his disappointing tie-21st result, the Race to Dubai title was still for Tommy Fleetwood.
“I’m a very happy man, on and off the golf course.”
Tommy Fleetwood
First to congratulate him was his wife-to-be, Clare, clutching their new-born baby Franklin. Proud father Tommy confessed: “The arrival of little Franklin – it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m getting married in two weeks. It’s just brilliant. I’m a very happy man, on and off the course. I’ve got a lot going for me at the moment, so I’m very grateful!”
The young player from Southport had pipped Rose at the post in the Race to Dubai with earnings on the European Tour totalling 5,420,530 euros for 2016-2017. After a slow start to his season, Rose, the Olympic Golf Champion, had accumulated 4,921,062 euros in just twelve tournaments. Victory in Dubai would have seen him top the European money-list.
Tommy Fleetwood, who turned professional in 2010, also finished number one in the Challenge Tour Rankings back in 2011. In doing so, he became the youngest player to win the Order of Merit, aged 20 and 290 days.
Wedding bells
Two weeks after winning the Race to Dubai, Fleetwood was walking down the aisle with his fiancée Clare. But not before squeezing-in another top-ten finish in the UBS Hong Kong Open – the first tournament of the new 2017-18 season. Nice one, Tommy!
Many congratulations to you on your terrific season and for winning the Race to Dubai. And congratulations on your wedding – the icing on the cake!
Wendy Hoad
CURIOUS as to how your favourite players finished in the Race to Dubai? Find out more HERE.
PICTURED: Tommy Fleetwood proudly lifts the Race to Dubai trophy.