Dutchman Joost Luiten made four birdies in five holes on the back nine of the Old Course at St Andrews to win the inaugural BMW Indoor Invitational. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JOOST Luiten posted a six-under par 66 on the Old Course for a two-shot victory in the inaugural edition of the BMW Indoor Invitational at St Andrews, on Saturday.

The Dutchman finished top of a leaderboard featuring 18 European Tour players in the first of five events in the new series of virtual golf tournaments – using the latest simulator technology.

As a result, he claimed the first prize of €10,000 towards a charity of his choice.

The six-time European Tour winner opted to split the proceeds between his own charity, the Joost Luiten Foundation, and Eramus Medical Centre, a hospital in his native Rotterdam, which has been on the front line in the battle against coronavirus.

Luiten and the rest of the field, which included former World No. 1s Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood, competed virtually over the Old Course at St Andrews from their own homes in the one round, 18 hole strokeplay event – powered by TrackMan.

“It’s a good feeling to win the inaugural event,” said Luiten. “St Andrews is such an iconic course to play.

“Everyone knows it from the TV, so it is a great place to start this.”

“We’ve been doing nothing for such a long time, so it is nice to get that feeling of competition going again.

“You try to stay fit and practise the way you can indoors, but it is different.

“So it is good to have the some nerves and that feeling of actually competing and trying to beat everybody else.

“That’s the most fun for us and that is why we are golf professionals. We have been missing that feeling for a long time, and it was good to get it back and to do well as well.

Luiten birdied the fifth, eighth and ninth holes in a front nine of 33, and then picked up four shots between the 12th and 16th, with just the tricky long uphill 13th not yiedling a birdie.

The Dutchman then carded his only bogey of the day on the 18^th after failing to get up and down from the famous Valley of Sin.

The 34-year-old finished two shots clear of Frenchman Damien Perrier, who fired seven birdies in his opening 14 holes – but then carded three consecutive bogeys from the 15^th in a round of 68.

Dean Burmester Hole In One at the BMW Indoor Invitational powered by TrackMan_10 MB MOV_m45885

$10k prize goes to two good causes

LUITEN was also pleased to be able to claim the first prize of $10,000 for his two charities.

Each of the five tournament winners in the BMW Indoor Invitational – powered by TrackMan – receiving $10,000 towards good causes of their choice.

“Charity is really important, especially in these times,” Luiten said.

“There is so much going on in the world that just needs money. So it is always good to give back.

“I started my own foundation at the beginning of this year to get kids into golf, so I’m going to give 50 per cent to help get that up and running and to help kids enjoy golf.

“The other 50 per cent will be donated to Eramus MC, a hospital here in Rotterdam and one of the biggest hospitals in Holland.

“They are trying to do a lot of research into stopping coronavirus so hopefully they can do a lot of good things with the money.

“It’s also important to raise awareness too. If everyone gives a little or helps out as much as they can hopefully the situation gets better and we can beat this virus.

“That is the most important thing at the moment, to beat this virus and keep the older people safe too and try to get back to normal life,” said Luiten, whose last real victory came in the 2018 Oman Open.

“It’s always special to win but I’m really proud we can give this money to good causes and every little helps.”

Luiten’s fellow Dutchman Wil Besseling shared third position with Poland’s Adrian Meronk on three-under.

France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Spain’s Adri Arnaus and Somerset’s Laurie Canter tied for fifth after posting 70s.

Wiesberger outscores Major man Kaymer

MEANWHILE Kaymer – the two-time Major Champion – joined Austrian Wiesberger in the interactive feature group.

Wiesberger edged the contest with a level-par 72, while Kaymer took two shots more.

The Austrian said: “It was good fun. It was nice to interact with Martin although I can assure you it wouldn’t normally be like that in a tournament.

“Martin is a great guy so and I enjoyed playing St Andrews, my favourite course, with him on the indoor TrackMan set-up.

“All of us, not just golfers but all athletes, are looking forward to getting back into competition again so it was fun to have set this up and for a good cause too, so thanks to the European Tour, BMW and TrackMan.

“It’s crazy where technology has taken us to that we can play golf tournaments indoors like this – and interact with each other – and still have a lot of fun – even if we have a couple more weeks until we get out there with a scorecard in our hand.”

Kaymer added: “To interact with another player again was nice. That’s what you miss most – the competition, to compete against someone who is as good as you.

“I was quite surprised at myself that I was excited to play, and I also had a bit of nervousness at some stage, which is a bit strange. But I look forward to doing the same again next week.

“For BMW, TrackMan and the European Tour to do a good thing was fun. The winner can donate to their charity every week for five weeks in a row.

“This is a beautiful idea. Especially at this time we’re in right now, giving is more important than ever.”

Watch coverage of BMW Indoor Invitational

TOURNAMENT footage was shown on the European Tour’s social media channels and https://bmw.trackmaninvitational.com

Fans were able to follow using #BMWTrackManInvitational.

Footage of the BMW Indoor Invitational is now available on the European Tour’s social media channels – Twitter: @europeantour; Instagram: @europeantour as well as YouTube: EuropeanTour.

This week’s course will be Royal Portrush (Saturday, May 16), followed by Golfclub München Eichenried (Saturday, May 23), Real Club Valderrama (Saturday, May 30) and Wentworth (Saturday, June 6).

The European Tour announced it was creating the innovative online virtual tournament earlier this week.

The post Luiten lights up back nine on Old Course to claim first leg of BMW Indoor Invitational appeared first on Golf North.

Lee Westwood is on the verge of history with a 25th European Tour victory on the table if he can win the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LEE Westwood takes a one-shot lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as he goes in search of a second Rolex Series title – and his 25th European Tour title.

The “Worksop Wonder,” who now lives in Newcastle’s Jesmond district, produced the shot of the week so far – to set up an eagle on the par-five eighth in a round of 65 that moved him to 14-under par.

That total was a shot clear of Italian Francesco Laporta and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, who claimed two Rolex Series titles in 2019.

The 34-year-old would become the first to win three different Rolex events if he can get to the top of the leader board at the end of Sunday’s fourth round in the United Arab Emirates.

Westwood ended a four-year hunt for a European Tour title with an emotional victory at the 2018 Nedbank Golf Challenge.

And the former World No. 1 would take his tally to a remarkable 25 wins across four different decades with a triumph at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, on Sunday.

Westwood said: “I played well. I holed a couple of putts early on which gave me some momentum and then hit a brilliant shot into eight, the par five – with a hybrid – 266 yards to about three feet.

“I then backed it up with a birdie at nine, so a bit of momentum, got on a roll. Had birdie chances on the back nine.

“A bit unlucky on 14, birdied 16 which is not the easiest hole on the course, and a nice birdie at the last.

Westwood, a veteran of 10 Ryder Cup appearances since his debut in Seve Ballesteros’ European-winning team at Valderrama in 1997, revealed he has not been taking it totally easy while resting over the short winter break.

“I’m working on a couple of things on my swing and if I don’t quite get it right I get a bit of pull and I pulled the second shot into 11,” revealed Westwood, who has traditionally always been taught by his dad.

“I didn’t play the best chip, I could to have got it close, but made a nice 15 -footer. They are the kind of putts you need to hole.

“Feel a bit uncomfortable on the greens at the moment. I’ve gone to the claw or pencil grip. I’m hitting a lot of putts where I’m intending to.

“Pretty good at reading these greens and I’m starting on the lines I want.

“Pretty excited. It’s always a bonus to be in contention, and that’s basically why we come out here.

“I’m not going to lie. I didn’t play a lot of golf coming into it – didn’t know what to expect.

“To be in the lead with one round to go or could be tied for the lead when the other lads finish, it’s a real positive.”

Meanwhile, Wiesberger finished with three birdies in a 65 of his own, while Laporta followed up his second round 63 with a 69 to join him at 13 -under.

“Very pleased with today’s work. Obviously at the end it was a little bit wayward at the last, said Wiesberger.

“But glad to hole a nice putt on the last green to come home in 65, and it was quite good.

“I drove it really nicely all day – long and straight, which always helps and I was quite comfortable with my irons, getting it dialled in.

“Unfortunately left a few putts out there on the back nine, but all-in-all, I was able to pick up some longer ones on the last few holes.

“Very pleased with today’s results, added Wiesberger, who won the Scottish and Italian Opens in 2019, and is expected to make his Ryder Cup debut for Padraig Harrington’s European team at Whistling Straits, in September.

“I just feel quite comfortable. Sometimes with me if I get a good tempo, I like putting on these greens, and I feel like I have a good understanding of the pace of the green.

“You know, if you’re confident on the greens, you can make a few out here, but if you’re just off the green, it makes it a bit more frustrating,” added Wiesberger,

“So far, it’s been good on the greens and hopefully continue that into tomorrow,” said Wiesberger, who had to recover from wrist surgery before leading the Race to Dubai going into the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, in November.

The Vienna pro eventually finished third on the Order of Merit behind winner Jon Rahm and runner-up Tommy Fleetwood, who could well be his Ryder Cup team-mates in eight months’ time.

Step-up in class for Rolex Series gave Challenge Tour No. 1 nerves

LAPORTA, who was the winner of the 2019 Race to Mallorca on the Challenge Tour, admitted the step up in class had brought some nerves in his third round having lead after 36 holes.

“I was a bit nervous on the first tee box,” said Laporta who won twice in 2019, including the Challenge Tour Grand Final at Mallorca’s Club de Golf Alcanada.

“Made a bad mistake on two, I was trying to hit it in the middle of the fairway for the second shot and pulled it, so I made a bogey there.

“Then I started to play some good golf and made one birdie coming out, so the front nine wasn’t bad and I played solid on the back nine.

“It would be just a dream,” Laporta admitted about the chances of winning his maiden European Tour victory so early in the new season.

“I just want to think about my score and my game,” the Frenchman added.

“Trying not to see the leaderboard – it’s not going to be easy. There’s going to be leaderboards everywhere. I think it’s going to be a good day tomorrow.”

Sheffield’s Matthew Fitzpatrick is in fourth place in the United Arab Emirates at 12-under – one-shot clear of 2017 Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and American Kurt Kitayama, who is looking for a third win after picking up two early in last year’s rookie season.

Fitzpatrick and Garcia have yet to win a Rolex Series event since their introduction in 2017 in an event to boost prize money, and keep Europe’s top stars playing on this side of the Atlantic as much as possible.

Belgian Thomas Detry and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello are at 10-under, with Surrey’s Ross Fisher and Lancashire’s Jack Senior a shot back alongside South Africans Zander Lombard and Louis Oosthuizen and Germany’s Sebastian Heisele.

Only Cabrera-Bello has won a Rolex Series event in that chasing pack.

The Spaniard beat Hertfordshire’s Callum Shinkwin in a play-off, at the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, at Dundonald.

•For live scoring in Sunday’s fourth round click here.

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Viktor Hovland produced a bullseye in the Hero Challenge final to defeat Louis Oosthuizen at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Formula One Circuit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RISING star Viktor Hovland defeated Major Champion Louis Oosthuizen to win the first Hero Challenge of 2020 in Abu Dhabi.

With his final shot of the night worth double, Hovland delivered a “bullseye” 50, to add 100 points to his final total of 190 points, easily surpassing Oosthuizen’s total of 55.

It was the Norwegian’s debut in the European Tour’s innovative shootout which was played under lights in the iconic Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, where some of the world’s best players are gathered for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“I can’t complain, that was a pretty good start to the week” said 22-year-old Hovland. “It’s an insane venue, I have never been to a place like this, so what a place to get my first professional victory.”

“I hit some pretty nice wedge shots tonight so hopefully that carries through to the tournament this week.

“To win the Hero Challenge is pretty cool and I’m looking forward to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in a couple of days.”

The pair were joined by Major Champions Brooks Koepka and Danny Willett, plus European Tour stars Matthew Fitzpatrick and Bernd Wiesberger for the innovative shootout at Yas Marina.

Former Masters Champion Willett and fellow Yorkshireman Fitzpatrick – a previous winner of the Hero Challenge in Scotland last year – both bowed out in the first round.

Hovland then defeated World No. 1 Koepka in the first semi-final, before Oosthuizen held off Austria’s two-time Rolex Series winner Wiesberger to progress to the final, where Hovland got the better of the South African to claim the 11th edition of the popular Hero Challenge.

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater.^[2] In 2014, Hovland won the Norwegian national championships for amateurs.

Hovland won the US Amateur at Pebble Beach in 2018 and finished 12th at the iconic Californian course when it staged the US Open a year later.

Having also finished as the low amateur at last year’s Masters at Augusta, the Norwegian’s switch to the pro ranks was eagerly anticipated last season as his total at Pebble Beach broke Jack Nicklaus’ record for the low amateur score in the US Open dating back to 1960.

Hovland would have been eligible to play last year’s Open at Royal Portrush as the reigning US Amateur Champion, but turned pro after the US Open.

The Oklahoma State University graduate made his debut at The Travelers Championship, in Conneticut, and earned his PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour thanks to his second place finish at the Albertson Boise Open.

Hovland finished fourth at the Wyndhams Championship at Sedgewick Country Club, in August, was tied 11th on his European Tour debut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, in September.

With a likely rapid rise up the Official World Golf Rankings, Hovland can look forward to choosing where in the world he wants to play in 2020, with sponsors HSBC keen to help him with a start in Abu Dhabi this week.

Hero Challenge’s new venues for 2020

HERO MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, extended the Hero Challenge on the European Tour until 2022 before Christmas, with the number of annual events increasing from three to a series of five.

Following Abu Dhabi, the event moves to Europe for three more exciting editions, including the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik and Annika in Stockholm and the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

The Betfred British Masters, which is being hosted by Lee Westwood at Newcastle’s Close House, in May is the only Hero Challenge on UK soil this year.

The series finale will take place ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending DP Worldl Tour Championship, in Dubai, and will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges from the 2020 campaign.

American stars boost Abu Dhabi HSBC field

THIS week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7 million.

American Presidents Cup winners Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay are in the field alongside Koepka, who returns to action after pulling out of Tiger Woods’ team that beat Ernie Els’ International side at Royal Melbourne, in December.

Koepka has recoverd from knee surgery in October, after playing through the pain for seven months in 2019 before going under the knife after aggravating his injury at the CJ Cup, in South Korea, after slipping on a hard surface.

The World No. 1 will be looking for a strong start to the season as he tries to win his third Sam Wanamaker Trophy at May’s USPGA at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, in May.

Koepka can’t wait to make return from injury

•For tee times in Thursday’s first round in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship click here.

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Louis Oosthuizen and Viktor Hovland will make their Hero Challenge debut at this week’s curtain raiser to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, at the United Arab Emirates’ famous Yas Marina Formula One track. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MAJOR winners Louis Oosthuizen and Danny Willett will join rising star Viktor Hovland to complete a world-class line up for the first Hero Challenge at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina racing circuit.

Fresh from his near miss defence in Sunday’s South African Open, Oosthuizen will play in Tuesday’s curtain-raiser to this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which gets under way on Thursday,

The trio of Willett, Hovland and Oosthuizen will join World No. 1 Brooks Koepka and European Tour stars Bernd Wiesberger and Matthew Fitzpatrick for the innovative shootout event at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.

Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – recently extended the Hero Challenge on the European Tour until 2022.

The number of annual events will increase in 2020 from three to a series of five.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship hosts the first of the New Year, with the series culminating in a final event featuring the previous four winners.

South African Oosthuizen boasts the 2010 Open Championship among his nine European Tour titles and will make his Hero Challenge debut as 5,000 fans watch six of golf’s biggest stars battle it out for the title in the exciting head-to-head format.

Oosthuizen said: “The Hero Challenge looks like a lot of fun, and especially this time round as we’ll be playing in such a cool location in Yas Marina.

“I can definitely say that it will be a first for me to play golf at a Formula One track, and I’m looking forward to going up against the guys in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.”

Yorkshire’s Willett returns to the Hero Challenge after coming close to getting his hands on the trophy in the final edition of the 2019 season in Dubai, in November.

The 2016 Masters champion will arrive in the United Arab Emirates looking to continue the form that saw him secure his seventh European Tour title – and his second on the Rolex Series – at last season’s BMW PGA Championship.

Hovland is one of golf’s most promising young stars, and the 22-year-old Norwegian will join Oosthuizen and Koepka in making his Hero Challenge debut at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The former World Amateur No. 1 won the low amateur honours at both the Masters and the US Open in 2019, before impressing on his first professional start on the European Tour with a tied 11th place finish at Wentworth.

The Hero Challenge will be hosted by Vernon Kay and Iona Stephen under floodlights at Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the annual Formula One Grand Priz race.

It will be broadcast live around the world with music and entertainment acts adding drama to the show. Doors will open to spectators from 5.30pm local time.

After the opening event in Abu Dhabi, the Hero Challenge then moves to Europe for three more exciting editions.

The first is the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik and Annika in Stockholm.

Then it’s on to the North East of England with the Betfred British Masters, to be hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House.

The Porsche European Open, in Hamburg, will host the fourth leg.

The series finale will take place ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending event in Dubai, and will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges from the 2020 campaign.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7million.

•Fans can register for FREE tickets to the thrilling spectacle at the famous Formula One racing circuit by clicking here.

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Michael Lorenzo-Vera led the 2019 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai

FRANCE’S Mike Lorenzo-Vera finished with four consecutive birdies in an opening round of 63 to take a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Despite feeling “under the weather,” Lorenzo-Vera equalled his lowest round of the season to set the early pace on nine-under par in the final Rolex Series event of 2019.

Biarritz-based Lorenzo-Vera, who was reputed for his fiery temper when he first came on Tour, still seeking his first Euorpean Tour win some 12 years later.

Thirty-four-year-old Lorenzo-Vera said: “Honestly I’m not the feeling well at all. I have no energy.

“I was down, I had a lung infection in South Africa and a lot of treatment, and really just feel bad on top of that.

“Just one of those days where you try to put the ball in play. I played four holes yesterday as practise, and I felt that if I really relaxed a lot, just swing it, like 70 per cent or maybe less, ball was still flying pretty well.

“Well, nothing’s clicking, really. I’m just trying to do well in every part of the performance and sometimes it clicks and sometimes it doesn’t click.

“I have a lot to do better to be more consistent on good weeks. That’s why I think I haven’t won yet. There’s plenty of work to do.”

Lorenzo-Vera even held a three-shot advantage at one point until four-time Major winner McIlroy produced his own spectacular finish.

Former World No. 1 McIlroy birdied the 15th and 16th holes then executed his “best shot of the year” on the last – a majestic three wood from 290 yards which finished five feet from the pin, en route to a closing eagle.

The Northern Irishman, who also posted five birdies on the front nine, carded a 64 as he chases back-to-back European Tour victories following his win in the WGC-HSBC Champions three weeks ago in Shanghai.

McIlroy, who cannot win the extra $2million for winning the Race to Dubai after missing points in two World Golf Championship events when he was not a European Tour member earlier in the year said: “It was great.

“I started off fast at four-under through six, five-under through seven. I held a couple of really good putts starting off, but I birdied the two par fives on the front nine and did what I needed to do.

“Then it got a little slow around the start of the back nine, but it was obviously nice to finish the way I did.

“I hit some really quality shots coming in which gives me a lot confidence going into the next few days,” added McIlroy, who has The Players Championship to his name in 2019, and claimed a second FedEx Cup at East Lake, in August.

“Honestly it’s possibly the best shot I’ve hit all year,” said McIlroy. “I had the equivalent 272 to the front, 291 to the pin, sort of back in off the left.

“Wind was off the left so it was a nice one for me to just aim straight at the pin and know if I hit my little draw it should hold.

“But if it gets going on the wind, obviously the bunker on the right is better than the water on the left. I just flushed it.

“When I was over it, it was sort of enough left and I sort of carried my three-wood off the deck about 280, so it was right on the limit but as soon as I hit it, I knew it was perfect.

“It was right out of the middle. Great to finish like that, and it was a great round of golf.”

Both players will have their eyes on the title and the $3million winner’s cheque – the richest first prize in tournament golf – while Jon Rahm has that and the Race to Dubai title in his sights after opening with a six -under par 66.

The Spaniard is currently third in the tournament and third in the Race to Dubai, and showed no sign of rust after a six-week spell off recharging his batteries.

Rahm bolstered his chances of overhauling Bernd Wiesberger in the contest to become Europe’s No. 1 with four birdies on the back nine.

“Really good, even though I tried my best to mess it up on the last hole,” said Rahm.

“Really good round. Six weeks of not competing, out of all those six weeks, most of the five were not touching a club.

“Pleased with the way I’m performing. I could tell how rested I was mentally because on some holes, I never lost patience.

“I never really got down on myself and stayed with that positive attitude. I’m hoping I can keep playing solid and keep it for the next three days.

“It was hard to kind of stop golf for a while, and then after a certain time, it was hard to pick it up again.

“So it was hard to get into that routine again but once I came to the tournament, you kind of switch, you get to the tournament, you get to grinding.

“I think it’s just getting the feel of putting, chipping, so I spent a lot of time doing that, a lot of short game, putting.

“The swing, I was feeling good, so all I had to do was make sure my pace was fast – greens were good. So far it’s been good.”

Fleetwood holes out to stay in Race to Dubai

LANCASHIRE’S Tommy Fleetwood also put the pressure on Race to Dubai leader Wiesberger – his playing partner in the opening round – by holing his second shot on the first hole for an eagle and birdieing the second.

The Ryder Cup hero eventually signed for a 67 to sit four shots back in a share of fourth place with Hertfordshire’s Tom Lewis, recent winner of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in the States, who has a PGA Tour card for 2020.

Fleetwood, who is four shots behind leader Lorenzo-Vera, said: “You can only put yourself out of it on day one. There’s a lot more to do. There’s 54 holes now.

“There are great players up there and all I can do, is do my stuff. I’ve got three days of work left really until the end of the year.

“Just make the most of them. Stay very present. Keep doing my best on every golf shot and see how we can get on.

“I would love to be up there come Sunday but that’s a very long way away. I’ve got a little bit of practice tonight, have dinner and on to tomorrow,” added last week’s winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which earned Fleetwood $2.5million, golf’s biggest tournament prize until this week.

“Very nice start,” Fleetwood added. “Hit a great drive and then I actually didn’t expect the nine to reach the pin.

“I knew it would be so close. You can’t see it, so you just take people’s reaction, but it was the perfect start.

“I didn’t feel too up or down. I was just happy with the execution of the golf shots. It’s nice, last event of the year, only four days left, so make the most of a good start.”

Wiesberger is a further three shots adrift, but the Austrian, who was one over par after his third bogey of the day on the 10th hole, was rightly pleased with his back nine.

He made birdies on the 11th, 13th and 18th holes that moved him back into the red on two-under par and into a share of 14th position.

Wiesberger said:“I put myself in tricky positions. Had a lot of sand off the tee, unfortunately, and couldn’t attack, even though conditions were a little bit windy it’s still gettable.

“There’s low scoring. Again like last week, I came off a sloppy start and we hung in there and shot a couple under par, so that’s a positive.

“It’s good. I try to cherish it as much as I can. I’m just thinking 72-hole tournament this week.

“I’m not trying to look at what is happening. I can’t control what Tommy, Matt, Shane and Jon are doing or any other of the 49 guys.

“So whatever is in my control, I try to do as good as possible, and I’ve done pretty well with that this year and no reason to change that.

“I’m trying to play for a tournament here and I’m trying to play for the Race to Dubai title, and if I do my very best to finish this tournament as high as possible, that’s all I can do.

“We’ll add it up at the end.”

•For live scoring in the second round of the DP Tour World Championship click here.

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Bernd Wiesberger can upstage Ryder Cup players Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick by landing the Race to Dubai. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BERND Wiesberger is determined to hold off the challenge of three Ryder Cup players and The Open Champion as he aims to become Austria’s first Race to Dubai Champion at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

The 34-year-old, who missed most of the 2018 season through injury, has enjoyed an impressive 2019 campaign, winning three times, including Rolex Series titles at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and the Italian Open.

After a tied third place finish at last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, Wiesberger holds a 722-point advantage over Tommy Fleetwood, the champion in South Africa, on Sunday, in the Race to Dubai.

Wiesberger, who has the chance to land this week’s record $3million first prize in the United Arab Emirates, said: “It would be a first off, obviously. Unfortunately, we haven’t had an Austrian winner of the Race to Dubai or the overall rankings at any point.

“Personally, it would be a huge achievement for me, something that, you know, growing up watching European Tour golf and watching legends like Seve, Olazábal and Colin Montgomerie – who himself has won so many times in a row – at the time when I started getting into golf.

“It’s something that looked a long distance away, but obviously much closer now.

“We are looking forward to the next four days and going to give it everything we have. And hopefully if we count up all the points at the end of Sunday, we’re still up there and it would be amazing.

“I’m very, very lucky right now in Austria with not only myself playing well this year, but also Matthias (Schwab) doing a great job, and almost catching a couple titles this year.”

Fleetwood, who won the Race to Dubai two years ago, said: “This is my third year in a row where I’m one of those players that has a chance to win the Race to Dubai.

“It’s very special. There’s only a certain number of people that have the Race to Dubai on their resume, and I’m lucky to be one of them.

“I think it’s one of my greatest achievements and I think I have experienced both sides,” said one of the heroes of Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup winning team.

“In 2017 when I won, I led it for such a long time. In 2018, I set out and it was never a goal at the start of the year to win the Race to Dubai.

“And all of a sudden, just because it was a possibility, it became something that really hurt when I didn’t.

“But realistically, I had not thought about it all year until sort of the last few events that I had a chance.

“I just think it’s important this year that I take those experiences into it and know that it still takes a lot to do it and it’s not in my hands at all.

“I can only do my best this week, take one shot at a time.” added Fleetwood, who had not won for nearly two years before his stunning final round containing three eeagles at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

With 2,000 Race to Dubai points on offer to the winner of the DP World Tour Championship, along with the richest-ever first prize in world tournament golf, Spaniard Jon Rahm, Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry and Yorkshire’s Matthew Fitzpatrick can also win the coveted European No. 1 title, on Sunday.

Wiesberger is in pole position and should he either win or finish second alone in the tournament at Jumeriah Golf Estates, he will be crowned Race to Dubai champion regardless of how the others finish.

Rahm has been lightly raced since the end of the FedEx Cup, and will be hoping to emulate his hero Seve Ballesteros by becoming European No. 1.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to take a lot of important weeks off and still have a chance to win the Race to Dubai,” said Rahm.

“I know even though it was a smaller event, winning in Spain was important in that sense.

“I’d rather be the front man, honestly. You don’t necessarily have to win. You just need to play good.

“Anybody that’s not the leader has a chance to win. I know there’s always odds, I think if I finish tied for second and some other things happen, I might win, as well.

“But I’m here to win, and hopefully I just get it done and not have to think about possible consequences about it.”

With Wiesberger’s closest rivals needing to either win or finish second to stand any chance of overhauling him, Wiesberger could also benefit from strong performances from those outside the top five on the Race to Dubai.

That includes World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who has twice won the DP World Tour Championship alongside four other top 10 finishes in his nine appearances.

The winner of the Players Championship, the FedEx Championship and the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2019 ironically deprived himself the chance of a fourth Race to Dubai title this week – and his first European / PGA Tour double – by his decision not to rejoin the European Tour after the Masters.

That cost McIlroy, who won the Race to Dubai in 2012 2014 and 2015, more than 1,700 Race to Dubai points.

Lowry looking to deny Wiesberger

Lowry had been very bullish about his chances of becoming European No. 1 back in September with the Rolex Series events at Wenworth, and in Italy.

But the 32-year-old has failed to reignite his form since the memorable scenes when he lifted the Claret Jug, at Royal Portrush, in July

“I suppose I’ve not really thought about it before the last few months,” Lowry admitted.

“I did have a chance here in 2015, if I won the tournament, I could have won the Race to Dubai – and I’m in a similar situation this week.

“I ended up finishing fifth that year,” added Lowry, who won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational that summer to jump up the rankings.

“It would be great,” said Shane. “You look at the names that are on the trophy and the people that have won it.

“I think anybody who is anybody in golf has won that trophy.

“Obviously, it would be really nice. It would be icing on the cake to cap off what is a good year.”

Matthew Fitzpatrick is also trying to maintain his record of having won on tour every year, and already has a victory on the Earth Course to his name three years ago.

“I think having that experience in 2016, to have been able to done it around this golf course, was massive,” said the Sheffield ace.

“You know, when I first ever came here, it wasn’t a golf course that people thought I could do well around, really.

“But it’s a golf course I love. I feel like it suits my game. I have good iron play and really good putting, and that’s the big difference.

“I feel like my last couple of results, I have two top 10 and my game feels like it’s trending in the right direction.

“It’s a shame that the year is coming to an end and there’s not a major coming up soon, but it’s been a good year and, I feel pretty confident right now,” said Fitzpatrick.

•For a full analysis of the season-ending permutations, click here. Follow live scoring in the first round at the DP World Tour Championship by clicking here.

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Rory McIlroy cannot win a fourth Race to Dubai this week, but the World No. 2 has his eyes firmly on the $3m first prize at the DP World Tour Championship, at Jumeirah’s Earth Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RORY McIlroy and defending champion Danny Willett are hoping to sign off their impressive personal 2019 campaigns in style at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

World No. 2 McIlroy has won four times globally during the calendar year.

But his decision no to rejoin the European Tour until after the Masters – and to skip last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge – means he cannot claim the 2019 Race to Dubai title for a fourth time this week.

McIlroy goes into the week in sixth place on the Race to Dubai and is targeting a 15th European Tour title, and with it the $3million winner’s cheque – the richest first prize in tournament golf anywhere in the world.

But after spending the first four months of the season based in the States, McIlroy, who had been in lengthy discussions with European Tour chief Keith Pelley, only became a member after he had played in the first two World Golf Championship events.

McIlroy, who has won nearly €40million in his European Tour career alone, finished runner-up in Mexico, in February, winning almost €1m – but crucially received no Race to Dubai points.

His 21st place finish at Augusta, also failed to earn any Race to Dubai points but between the three tournaments, Rory would have been 1,726 points better off on the Race to Dubai.

Rory is now 2,039 points behind current leader Bernd Wiesberger – and after the Nedbank result, only four other players can catch the Austrian and land the $2million bonus for winning the Race to Dubai after the eighth and final Rolex Series tournament at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Those four are Open Champion Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood – last week’s winner at Sun City – Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the DP World Tour Championship three years ago, and Spaniard John Rahm, who who won this event two years ago.

McIlroy said: “I’ve been coming back here for 10 years now. I remember my first year here, battling Lee Westwood to the finish to win the Race to Dubai.

“It’s been a great 10 years. The golf course has been getting better and better and the event itself, the clubhouse and how mature everything is.

“It is a much bigger event than it was back then,” added McIlroy, who has former Ulster rugby player Niall O’Connor on the bag, with Harry Diamond staying in Belfast, having just become a father for the first time.

“If you have length, it can be advantage, but we have the top 50 guys here and they know what it takes to play well,” said Rory, who intends to take the next four weeks off at his Florida home, before spending Christmas with his family in Belfast.

“It’s going to be a fun week for get out there with Niall on the bag and hopefully I can play well the first few days and you know, we’ll get into the heat of battle hopefully on the weekend.

“That will be something that will be fun for both of us,” Rory said about 32-year-old Niall, a close friend, who works at a New York equity firm.

“I’ll maybe take on a little bit more responsibility than I usually do and jot stuff down.

“It feels a little bit like when Harry first came on the bag a couple years ago, right. I took on a little more responsibility, writing stuff in my yardage book and pacing stuff out. I actually quite enjoy that part, as well.

“You know what, it will be fun. Obviously Niall and I go back a long way, so yeah, for me at this point it’s just about trying to stay as relaxed and as loose as possible out there. And he can definitely do that for me.”

McIlroy won on his most recent start in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China three weeks ago.

Wby Danny Willett was so relieved after DP World Tour win a year ago

Meanwhile defending champion Willett backed up his win 12 months ago with a second Rolex Series title in the BMW PGA Championship, in September.

Like Willett, McIlroy has previous success at Jumeriah Golf Estates, having claimed the title in 2012 and 2015 with a further five top 10 finishes in his nine appearances.

That is also the aim for Willett, who won by two shots from Matt Wallace and Patrick Reed last year, as he seeks to become the first player since Henrik Stenson in 2013/14 to defend the DP World Tour Championship title.

Willett, a winner at Wentworth two months ago, said: “It’s always nice to come back and defend anywhere in the world.

“For it to be the final event of the year in Dubai, obviously with the new format – 50 guys here and a really strong field again – it’s good fun.

“I’m sure we’ll get four great days of golf, four exciting days of golf for everyone that comes up. Hopefully on Sunday we’re in a similar position.

“Last year, we weren’t sure if we were going to win again with all the injuries, and it was nice to come back and do it on such a big stage against such a great field.

“Obviously coming down the stretch with Patrick Reed and Jon Rahm posting scores, just to prove to myself that when I get in contention, I’m pretty good at closing out golf tournaments.

“Obviously after everything that happened, it was, a pretty special moment, especially with all the family here and friends.

“Any win in your career is a pretty special moment, but yeah, the bigger the event and the bigger the emotion, always makes it feel even better.”

•For tee times for Thursday’s first round in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, click here.

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The former World No. 1 fired a stunning final round of 64 at Gary Player Country Club last year to finish three strokes ahead of Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia.

It was good enough to ensure his return to the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2014 Maybank Championship, in Malaysia.

Westwood talking at Sun City – where the tournament is again hosted by Gary Player – said: “I always look forward to coming back to Sun City.

“It’s a brilliant resort and great golf course. Always done well around here and it brings back good feelings,” said Westwood who has played in 10 Ryder Cups since his debut in 1997, and played in more matches for Europe than any other player in its history.

“It’s nice to be back defending a tournament,” Westwood added.

“It’s tough to win these Rolex Series events and I managed to win this one last year. I’m excited about playing well again.

“I played well in Turkey last week, and excited to get back on the golf course this week,” said Lee, who finished in a share of 10th in last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’ve won four times around here – three Nedbanks and a Dimension Data,” said the 46-year-old, who has 43 wins around the world since 1996.

“I know the course well. I know where they put the flags. I read these greens pretty well, as well.

“Distance control with the elevation changes and the extremes in temperature all come into that.

“I have a pretty good game plan for the course and I know how to handle the variations in conditions.”

The Nottinghamshire ace became the first European to win the title three times following his victories in 2010 and 2011.

He joined South African legend Ernie Els and Zimbabwean Major winner Nick Price with that treble.

Westwood will start the week in Sun City in the company of Race to Dubai rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger and Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who currently occupies fourth place on the season-long standings.

Austrian Wiesberger has a lead of 387 points over Spaniard Jon Rahm with just two events left to play.

Rahm, winner of the Irish Open, in June – the third Rolex win of his career – has not played in an European Tour event since the Spanish Open over a month ago, which he also won.P

Wiesberger, who already has three wins in 2019, including two Rolex Series – said: “There are so many points to be had over the last events again, and a lot of things can happen.

“I’m just looking to be prepared as good as I can,” said the winner of the Scottish and Italian Opens.

“It’s getting a little bit tighter with some of my game that hasn’t been there the last two weeks.”

Thirty-four-year-old Wiesberger added: “Just look at the course – looking really forward to this week again.

“I’m not looking too much into the ranking and just controlling what I can control.”

Also teeing it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge this week is 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, who made his last appearance at this event that same year.

Fleetwood said: “It’s really nice to be back. I missed last year, the way scheduling worked out.

“Coming back, played it a few years now, and got such a great atmosphere, such a big event, it always has been.

“It continues to get bigger, really, and in terms of how important it is to the season, everything – and, coming down to the final couple of events, it’s special.

“The game wasn’t there in China, so we had to work on it. But I’ve done some good work last week. I feel a lot better.

“I feel a lot happier with where my swing is and where my head is. You know, always when you’re pushing for result, you feel like you should be doing better and you can be doing better.

“It’s difficult when you can’t quite get out of it what you want,” said 28-year-old Fleetwood, whose last win came in Abu Dhabi, in January 2018.

Fleetwood is joined by South African legend Els, who won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 1999, 2000 and 2002, before the event joined the European Tour’s schedule in 2013.

Els said: “I’m really pleased they gave they the invite. I was coming down to these parts already – I’m over 50 now, so I’m the oldest guy in the field. b

“I’ve had so many great memories around Sun City from fans and from the people I’ve met here, and obviously the golf course is very special to me,” said the winner of two Claret Jugs and two US Opens.

The winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge will receive 1,665 points on the Race to Dubai – and a cheque for S$2.5million.

Players will then battle for the largest first prize in tournament golf – S$3million – at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, next week.

•For tee times at Sun City click here.

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Hallamshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick produced four birdies in five holes on the back nine at Oligata GC, near Rome, to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Italian Open.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

YORKSHIRE’S Matthew Fitzpatrick staged an impressive fightback with four birdies in his final six holes to maintain his one-shot lead going into the final round of the Italian Open.

The former Ryder Cup player bogeyed the second hole after an opening birdie and then slipped to one over par for his third round with a further bogey on the 10th hole at Rome’s Oligata GC.

But the former US Amateur Champion rallied impressively with birdies on the 13^th, 15^th, 16^th and 17^th holes to sign for a round of 68 – and preserve his one shot overnight advantage after posting 13-under.

Fitzpatrick, who grew up playing junior golf at Sheffield’s Hallamshire Golf Club, praised his caddie Billy Foster – one of the most experienced on Toru – for keeping him on track for his first win of 2019.

Fitzpatrick said: “Billy just kept talking me through it, saying just be patient.

“I said to him down the hill on 12, it didn’t feel like I should be one-over. It felt like the way my swing felt.

“I didn’t hit as many good as good shots as I would have liked around the turn, so that cost me a little bit – put me back. But to finish the way I did, was great.

“The par saves on 11 and 12 were huge. They were really, really important, and they felt really good, as well, because it’s something I’ve been working on, my short game.

“Obviously everyone is always working on something,” Fitzpatrick added, “but just to see it pay off today, particularly under the pressure was good.

“To put myself one in front going into tomorrow gives me a little bit of help, but yeah, I’m just looking forward and ready to go already.”

Fitzpatrick has finished runner-up three times so far this season and he is seeking a sixth European Tour title to extend his winning run to five consecutive seasons in the fifth event of the European Tour’s 2019 Rolex Series.

Fitzpatrick’s career has never looked back since winning the Selborne Salver as an England junior international at Blackmoor GC, in East Hampshire, in 2012.

His nearest rival is American Kurt Kitayama, a two-time winner already in 2019, who moved serenely through the field with a bogey-free round of 65 to sit one shot back on 12-under.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre went one shot better with a seven-under 64 as he moved into contention for another shot at a maiden European Tour title, just two years since making his Walker Cup debut in Los Angeles.

The Challenge Tour graduate has impressed in his rookie season on the European Tour, also finishing runner-up on three occasions so far.

MacIntyre played alongside Hampshire’s Scott Gregory, and Jack-Singh-Brar in the Walker Cup in Californian, and all three have ended up on the European Tour – just three years after Gregory beat the Scott in the Amateur Championship final, at Royal Porthcawl.

MacIntyre said: “That round is up there. I seem to be getting in positions and just letting it fall away.

But me and Greg have been talking about just staying in the present. Just do what we do, and today, we done that. Managed to get a good result.

“When I get too aggressive, it actually affects me. So it’s just about playing to my strengths and the course kind of suits the driver.

“So we’re just going at it this week and it seems to be working,” added the Oban golfer.

“My goal now is just trying to get my mind off trying to win. It’s about trying to get as many world ranking points as I can to try to end the season as high as possible.

“Everybody knows why they want to end the season high, but the win is irrelevant of what I’m trying to achieve.

“I’ve just got to go and play my game, and if the win comes, well, I’m sure I’ll celebrate it.”

There is no doubt though that MacIntyre desparately wants to emulate Kitayama, who came through the European Tour Qualifying School nearly a year ago, finishing third at Lumine, in Spain.

Kitayama said: “It was a good day. I missed a few greens but was able to get up-and-down and made some good putts. Playing bogey-free is always good, especially out here.

“I feel like I’ve been in pretty good control of my irons. My driver was better. Just trying to keep it in play, really, and give myself a look at the green and take advantage of those.

“This is a big event. Winning at any level, even smaller events, you still have to draw back on those memories and those situations, because the feeling is still going to be similar.

“Winning’s winning. So just go out and do the same tomorrow,” added the winner of the Mauritius and Oman Opens in 2019.

MacIntyre will start the final round two shots adrift on 11-under.

Hertfordshire’s Matt Wallace and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger share fourth place on 10-under par after both players carded rounds of 67.

Wiesberger and Kitayama are both going for their third win of the season – with Wiesberger in position to make it two Rolex Series victories in just three months.

And if the Austrian should come out on top, the first prize of €1million will raise his game yet another level in his bid to make up for lost time through last year’s injury, and his pursuit of a place in Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup team.

Follow live scoring in Rome here.

Round three s

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Robert MacIntyre raced into a four-shot lead at the halfway mark in the Porsche European Open after a superb 65 at Green Eagle Golf Courses, in Hamburg. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ROBERT MacIntyre stormed into the Porsche European Open lead, firing a flawless seven-under par 65 to take a four-stroke advantage into the weekend after the second round in Hamburg.

The 23-year-old, who started the day two strokes behind 18-hole leader Paul Casey, carded the low round of the week so far at Green Eagle Golf Courses.

The Scotsman recorded three birdies on the front nine, which he matched as he came in, capping his round with his seventh gain of the day on the 18^th hole.

MacIntyre, who played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club two years ago, said: “I just stuck to my game plan – it’s probably the best I’ve driven the ball this year.

“It’s not just going straight, it’s going miles. I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s working, and I’ll try and continue to do it,” added the Scot, who hails from Oban.

“I’ve changed quite a few things over the season to improve. Dave, my coach, is on the bag this week, he’s doing a great job off the course when I’m at home and doing the right things. It’s great to see the reward.

“It’s going to be tough, especially when it’s the first time that I’ve got such a lead – whether on the Challenge Tour or here on the European Tour – I’ll have to learn from this experience.

“I’m doing the right things on the course and the right things off the course, I’m nice and relaxed,” added MacIntyre, who was beaten in the final of the 2016 Amateur Championship by Hampshire’s Scott Gregory, who made a rare cut this week after a season of struggle for the Corhampton player, who was also a Walker Cup team-mate of the tournament leader in LA, in 2017.

“Everything at home has been brilliant, so I’m in the right mindset for going out this weekend.”

A runner-up on two occasions in his rookie season – at the Betfred British Masters and Made in Denmark in back-to-back weeks in May – this is the first time MacIntyre has held an overnight lead on the European Tour.

Leading the chasing park is Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer, who delighted the home crowds with a six-under par round of 66 to get to seven-under after 36 holes.

Ritthammer said: “I’ve had a slow season so far, it’s been tough. I’ve been working hard and not really getting any results.

“Friday for me normally has something to do with fighting the cut – I was very pleased with how I played yesterday, only one-under, but conditions were pretty brutal in the morning. That was as good as today.

“I got off to a good start and felt like I was flushing the ball, felt like it was going where I wanted to go,” added the player looking for his maiden European Tour victory.

“The putter really warmed up and I made some incredible par saves and really good birdie putts. I didn’t expect it to be that easy today, I just played really well.”

Ritthammer is two strokes ahead of the trio of Casey, Italian Guido Migliozzi and Austrian Matthias Schwab.

Bernd Wiesberger and Alexander Björk share sixth place on four-under, while German Dominic Foos is one of six players a stroke further back in eighth.

•For live scores in the third round click here.

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