ON THE EUROPEAN TO UR
Willett wins again as Molinari tops Race to Dubai
“I’m relieved more than
anything to be honest.
Clearly, I wasn’t bursting with
energy the last few days, but
I did what I could, and luckily
it was good enough. I’m really
incredibly proud to know
that my name is going to be
on that trophy with some
incredible names.”
Danny Willett and Francesco Molinari
anny Willett made a triumphant
return to the winner’s circle as
Francesco Molinari was crowned
Europe’s Number One on a dramatic final
day of the DP World Tour Championship,
Dubai - the eighth and final Rolex Series
event of 2018.
Englishman Willett made three birdies in
his last five holes to get to 18 under par,
two shots clear of fellow Englishman Matt
Wallace - who did enough to take a share
of the Bonus Pool, finishing in tenth place
in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented
by Rolex - and reigning Masters Champion
Patrick Reed, who took second place in the
season-long rankings.
Willett made his Major breakthrough in
April 2016 with victory in the Masters
Tournament but when he arrived this week
at Jumeirah Golf Estates that remained his
last title after battling with injury and loss
of form. He missed five of his first seven
cuts this season but a tie for eighth at the
Italian Open ignited his campaign and two
more Rolex Series top-10s followed before
he claimed European Tour title number six
on the Earth Course with a final round 68.
After a stellar season that included a first
Major title at The Open, a Rolex Series
Final Rolex Series Event Of 2018 Welcomes Europe’s Pre-Eminent Golfers To Dubai
Now in its 10th year, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai was contested by the
top 60 players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex
on 15 – 18 November 2018 at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Set against the backdrop of
Dubai’s glittering city skyline, the tournament marked the final Rolex Series event of
2018. Launched in 2017, the Rolex Series presents a global programme of golfing
showpieces on the European Tour, which Rolex has partnered since 1997. The DP
World Tour Championship included Rahm’s compatriot Rafa Cabrera Bello, who was
also a previous Rolex Series winner; Belgians Thomas Pieters, a three-time European
Tour winner, and Thomas Detry; 2016 DP World Tour Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick,
from England; and Haotong Li, from China, who won his second European Tour event
early this year in Dubai.
victory at the BMW PGA Championship, and
a record-breaking five points from five at
The Ryder Cup, Molinari entered the week
knowing that only a win for closest rival and
great friend Tommy Fleetwood could deny
him the Race to Dubai title. Despite finishing
12 shots off the lead, Fleetwood’s tie for
16th meant that Italy had its first European
Number One.
Defending DP World Tour Championship,
Dubai champion Jon Rahm finished in a tie
for fourth place at 14 under par alongside
GolfPlus
fellow Spaniard Adrian Otaegui and Dean
Burmester of South Africa.
Englishman Tom Lewis and Dylan Frittelli of
South Africa were a shot further back, with
another Masters winner in Sergio Garcia
at 12 under par alongside two-time Rolex
Series winner Alex Noren and Thailand’s
Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Meanwhile, India’s Shubhankar Sharma was
confirmed as the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of
the Year, after a debut season that included
two European Tour titles.
DECEMBER
2018
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