Henrik Stenson takes one-shot lead in Race to Dubai finale

 

Henrik Stenson consolidated his bid for the Race to Dubai title with a 64 to go a stroke ahead at the halfway stage of the World Tour Championship in Dubai.

 

The Swede is 12 under and seeking to become the first player to win the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup series and European Tour money list in the same season.

Victory would ensure that but Justin Rose can usurp Stenson by winning and the Englishman is five shots adrift.

Graeme McDowell can also eclipse them with the title but he is four under.

Several other players have rather more remote chances of the Race to Dubai title through various permutations and the most likely of those is Ian Poulter, fourth in the standing going into the final event.

The 37-year-old Ryder Cup favourite needs to win the tournament and hope Stenson finishes outside the top two, and Poulter recovered from two dropped shots in three holes at the start of the back nine to post a 68 for a share of seventh place, five shots off the lead.

 

"As long as I'm in striking distance come Sunday afternoon, then we might see some fireworks," the Englishman said.

But Stenson showed there was little likelihood of him falling away with another demonstration of exemplary driving and iron play.

The world number three, second to Phil Mickelson at this year's Open Championship but yet to win a major, was even able to miss three putts from inside eight feet on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

He made eight birdies, four on each nine and his three-putt on the 18th green in round one remains his only dropped shot of the tournament.

At the 486-yard par-four 16th, a mammoth tee shot left him with just a sand iron to the green and the approach finished within two feet of the flag to set up a birdie.

Then at the closing par five he spun his approach back off the slope to a similar distance to pick up another shot.

"I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, gave myself opportunities and rolled a couple of nice putts," Stenson commented.

"It could be a bit better, but there's no point being greedy either. Everyone is going to miss a few out there on the greens. They are tricky to read, a lot of grain and they're quick. I'm delighted with the first two days' work."

First-round leader Alejandro Canizares had hoped to match Stenson at 12 under playing the last, but electing to lay up with his second shot he found the meandering stream and did well to salvage a par five and secure second spot.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy, without a title in 2013, is six under after a 67 containing five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.

"I think somewhere around 20 under par will win so I will need a couple of 65s," said McIlroy, who shot back-to-back rounds of 66 to win this event 12 months ago.

"I finally feel I have got to the stage now when I can contend week in, week out and on the rare times I have got into contention this year I feel like I have played my best golf," the 24-year-old Northern Irishman said.

Another former world number one yet to win this year, Luke Donald, now ranked 17th, began with a bogey but then compiled six consecutive birdies and returned a 66 for a five under halfway total.

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US PGA: Royal Portrush named as possible venue

Royal Portrush is a contender to host the US PGA Championship if the PGA of America goes ahead with plans to stage the event outside the United States.

 

The earliest possible date for a move is 2020, and PGA of America president Ted Bishop suggested the Northern Ireland course as a venue.

"Royal Portrush would be a great first international major," said Bishop.

Rory McIlroy has been approached by the PGA of America about Northern Ireland hosting its first major since 1951.

"I've spoken to Ted and people back at the PGA about this," said the two-time major winner from County Down.

"They approached me about it a few weeks ago and I said I would be all for it. I'd love to play a major championship at home - that would be nice."

Bishop believes recent major wins by McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke have enhanced Portrush's chances of holding the championship.

 

He added: "I think given the powerful effect that Irish golfers have on the game today, that might be a good place to start."

The PGA of America confirmed last month that a committee is studying the impact of holding the event around the world.

Asia was thought to be the most likely venue in 2020 until Bishop's comments on the Golf Channel's 'Morning Drive' programme.

The R&A denied reports this summer that the Open Championship was set to be held at Portrush in either 2018 or 2019.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson admitted earlier this year that Portrush is "a fantastic golf course," but concerns remain over the infrastructure required to stage a major and Dawson feels the current nine-course Open rota is "about right".

The County Antrim course has not hosted a major since the 1951 Open, but the Irish Open was a huge success there in 2012.

Former US Open champion and Portrush native McDowell admitted the possibility of staging one of golf's four major championships was "very bizarre".

He added: "It's always been a dream of mine to play the Open there but the US PGA would do nicely.

"It's very bizarre and an amazing statement. I couldn't believe it and read it three times.

"I had heard the US PGA was looking at going global, which is a very positive step forward, but I was expecting Asia, not the north coast of Ireland.

"Even if it never comes to fruition, it's a great boost to be mentioned in that breath. My brother Gary is on the greenkeeping staff there and he will have a spring in his step.

"Having three majors in America with the way the game is growing is a little too weighted. It's the fourth major of four so taking it somewhere else would really boost the interest. Asia, Australia or Europe would really embrace it."

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Race to Dubai: Henrik Stenson two shots back in European Tour finale

 

Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson carded a four-under-par 68 for a share of fourth place after the opening round of the World Tour Championship.

 

The Swede, 37, will become the first to claim the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the European Tour equivalent in the same year if he wins in Dubai this weekend.

Two men could usurp him by taking the final event - Justin Rose, who fired a 70, and Graeme McDowell, who shot a 72.

Spaniard Alejandro Canizares has a one-shot lead after seven birdies in a 66.

A total of nine players can still win the European Tour prize through various permutations.

In addition to the three for whom victory would guarantee the Race to Dubai trophy, Ian Poulter, Jamie Donaldson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Thongchai Jaidee, Richard Sterne and last week's Turkish Open winner Victor Dubuisson also have opportunities.

Only two of those in contention were outside the top 10 after the first round, Northern Ireland's McDowell recovering from two dropped shots in his opening three holes to post three consecutive birdies on the back nine to lie joint 27th, and Fernandez-Castano mixing four birdies and three birdies in a 71 for a share of 17th.

Stenson captured the PGA Tour's £6.3m FedEx Cup bonus when he won the final American event, September's Tour Championship in Atlanta.

He was hampered by a wrist injury coming into the European Tour finale but collected three birdies on the front nine and two more coming home before three-putting the final green for his sole bogey.

"It has been a lot of hard work all season and I just let my focus slip on the last," Stenson admitted.

"That sucks, but I am still in good shape and playing nicely. The guys are running on fumes so everybody is looking forward to getting done.

"You can't win a tournament on Thursday but you can certainly play your way out of it. I would have taken four under at the start of the day so I just have to let the disappointment of the last slip away."

If Ryder Cup favourite Poulter triumphs at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Greg Norman-designed Earth course, Stenson will have to finish second to deny the Englishman top spot in the overall standings.

Poulter, fourth in the standings, carded four birdies and one bogey in his opening 69, but was frustrated at missing a number of chances to be higher than joint-seventh on the leaderboard.

 

"I made two putts which were outside birdie chances and took a couple more but the rest were missed. I am frustrated but happy to be only three behind," he said.

"I need to continue to be aggressive and see if I can nick it at the end. It's a good mix to be really angry being three under par and still being in there for the next three days."

Canizares, the 30-year-old son of former European Ryder Cup player Jose Maria, won on only his third European Tour start at the 2006 Russian Open.

Seven years and almost 200 events have since passed without him being able to add a second title.

Rory McIlroy, who birdied the final five holes to claim this event 12 months ago but is yet to win a tournament in 2013, birdied three of the opening four holes but fell away to finish in 71.

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Rory McIlroy says management issues have been a 'distraction'

 

Rory McIlroy has said "countless hours spent with lawyers this year" have been a "distraction" as he heads into this week's World Tour Championship in Dubai still seeking his first win of 2013.

McIlroy is refusing to lay the blame for his on-course struggles on his split with Horizon Sports Management.

However, the Northern Irishman says he has been forced to deal with things "you shouldn't have to think about".

"It's just extra stuff in your head," the 24-year-old told BBC Sport.

Last month, McIlroy began legal action in the Republic of Ireland against the Dublin-based Horizon Sports in a dispute over management fees although the company has indicated that it is set to counter claim.

McIlroy has also set up a new management company to look after his own affairs.

Speaking in Dubai on Tuesday, McIlroy made clear his frustration at the amount of time he has had to devote to his management issues this year.

Throughout the summer, there had been speculation that he was set to split from Horizon Sports before the news was eventually confirmed in late September.

All that was going on as McIlroy's disappointing form saw him dropping from the world number one spot to sixth in the rankings.

"It's something that I don't think a professional athlete or any person should really have to go through," added McIlroy.

"You are taking time away from what you should be doing which is thinking about your game and focusing on your game.

"I've spent countless hours with lawyers and whatever this year."

McIlroy was at pains to make clear that he was not attributing all his 2013 struggles to his management difficulties.

"I'm not saying it's been a huge detriment to my game but it's just something that's filled my head when it shouldn't really be there," he said.

"I'm not making excuses because my game has not been good enough this year and I completely accept that and I take responsibility for that.

"But it would be nice next year when things hopefully are a bit calmer, if I can look forward to just playing golf."

Defending champion McIlroy says he will go into this week's Dubai event in a good frame of mind after some improved recent form, including his share of sixth place at the WGC Champions tournament in Shanghai two weeks ago.

"I'm coming back off a performance at the World Championship (event) in finishing sixth and being disappointed and it obviously means that things are on the right track," he said.

"It's (also) a golf course that sets up well for me. I've got positive memories from the last few years and I'm really looking forward to this week."

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Victor Dubuisson claims Turkish Airlines Open title by two shots

Frenchman Victor Dubuisson held off Jamie Donaldson, Justin Rose and Tiger Woods to claim his maiden European Tour title at the Turkish Open.

The 23-year-old, who started the day five shots in front, carded a final-round 69 to end two clear on 24 under.

Wales' Donaldson hit a hole-in-one at 16 in his 63 to end second, two ahead of world number one Woods (67) and US Open champion Justin Rose (65).

Ian Poulter (69) tied for fifth with France's Raphael Jacquelin at 19 under.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson (69) finished one stroke further behind to maintain his lead the Race to Dubai rankings.

Stenson leads the season-long standings from Rose, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, Poulter and now Donaldson with just next week's DP World Tour Championship to come in Dubai.

In Antalya, Dubuisson struggled to recapture the form that took him to a third-round 63 and only picked up his first shot of the day at the 10th.

But the tournament was turned on its head when he dropped a shot at the 14th, his first for 33 holes, and Donaldson holed out with a seven iron to the 180-yard 16th to grab a share of the lead.

Rose, playing with Donaldson, birdied 16 to make it a three-way tie, but Dubuisson, the world number 108, sealed victory with three birdies in the last four holes as some of golf's biggest names fell short.

Donaldson missed a six-foot eagle putt on the last, Rose bogeyed the 18th, Woods left it too late despite four birdies in his last six holes, and Poulter bogeyed the 12th before a run of six straight pars to finish.

"I wanted to cry on the 18th green," said a relieved Dubuisson, before picking up a cheque for £411,000. "I still don't realise that I've won such a big event.

"The start was a bit difficult because I did not hit the ball well and struggled on the greens. I didn't hole any birdie putts on the front nine and all the good players were coming back at me.

"But I spoke to my caddie at the turn and told him everything is OK and I would make one or two birdies on the back nine."

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Colin Montgomerie backs European Tour in appearance row

 

Colin Montgomerie says the European Tour should "call the bluff" of players threatening to quit over its "Final Series" regulations.

The rules prevent players participating in the lucrative DP World Tour Championship  in Dubai unless they play in two of the three lead-up events.

Ex-Masters champion Charl Schwartzel is one of a number angry with the rules.

"You can understand the European Tour's point of view - it's difficult to find sponsors," Montgomerie said.

"The players are saying they are being dictated to and being told where to play but you shouldn't have to be told to play for $7m should you?

"They are professional golfers, that's their job. I think the Tour should hold firm."

The rules are designed to ensure high-quality fields at the first three of the Race to Dubai's Final Series events and not just for the $8m (£4.9m) season-ending tournament, which carries a $3.75m (£2.3m) bonus pool for the top 10 in the standings.

Eight-time European number one Montgomerie, who captained Europe to victory in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, says players need to play on the European Tour to qualify for the sport's showpiece team event.

"They won't bin their cards because then they couldn't play in the Ryder Cup. Call their bluff - the Tour have a bit of power here," he added.

The European Tour may now review the regulations, which have prevented Schwartzel, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia from competing in the climax to its season-long Race to Dubai. 

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, is considering leaving the European Tour over the new rules, citing his other golf commitments and a fear of burnout.

Montgomerie, 50, has little sympathy for the complaints and pointed out that the schedules of his own generation of golfers were far more intense.

"People are saying they can't play four events in a row. For goodness sake, I played 13 in a row when I was at my peak," he said.

"Four in a row is not a lot, especially the way they are treated nowadays. They are like royalty with their private planes and suites. It's hardly a hassle is it?"

World number one Tiger Woods has also defended himself against criticism of his schedule, stating he is 'an independent contractor' free to choose where and when he plays.

Montgomerie says the players need to understand that sponsors will reduce the prize money on offer for tournaments if high-profile players are regularly absent.

"The first thing a sponsor asks when they are putting up $7m or $8m is who's playing? If you can say to these sponsors that the top players are going to play two out of the three that is why they put the money in."

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Race to Dubai: Charl Schwartzel could leave European Tour

 

Major winner Charl Schwartzel is considering leaving the European Tour because of controversial new rules governing the end of the season.

The 2011 Masters champion, along with Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, is ineligible for next week's lucrative DP World Tour Championship  in Dubai.

All three have not met the requirement of competing in two of the three events in the lead-up to the tournament.

"I think it does make you think about your future," Schwartzel, 29, said.

Although the South African is playing in the Turkish Airlines Open this week, he missed Shanghai's BMW Masters and HSBC Champions over the past fortnight.

 

With commitments to the forthcoming World Cup and two events in his homeland, Schwartzel felt playing in China would give him too exhausting a schedule.

"I'm really disappointed and feel sorry for the sponsors next week," he told BBC Sport.

"I really want to play but I think there's been some bad decisions made and unfortunately I can't play. I'm not going to carry on about it but it really needs to be looked at."

The rules are designed to ensure high-quality fields at the first three of the Race to Dubai's Final Series events and not just for the $8m (£4.9m) season-ending tournament, which carries a $3.75m (£2.3m) bonus pool for the top 10 in the standings.

But Schwartzel, ranked 21st in the world, does not believe it is "in the best interests of the Tour".

He has played a full quota of tournaments on the European circuit and is also a member of the PGA Tour in the United States.

"I've played my 13, my three in Europe and supported my home tour. I feel as a South African it's important to support those events, especially co-sanctioned events."

The European Tour is expected to review the rule which has prevented three of its biggest names from competing in the climax to its season-long Race to Dubai. 

Schwartzel added: "It will become too difficult to fulfil your commitments all over. I will have to sit back and think what will suit me as a player best.

"I've played in Europe for a very long time and enjoy it and I would love to keep playing. But with these sort of rules coming in, I will have to play some tournaments in South Africa and America only."

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