THE season's finale takes place with the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah.
Only three players are in a position to win the Race to Dubai title. The fairways are beautifully laid out and are generous so driving accuracy isn't a prerequisite.
There are also plenty of large bunkers around the course with water coming into play on five holes, four of them after the 14th. I will be focusing on GIR, putts per GIR and form coming into this week is also be important.
Tommy Fleetwood, who leads Justin Rose by 256,737 points, only needs to equal or better the Masters runner-up to win the title. Sergio Garcia needs to win with Fleetwood finish outside the top 20 and Rose no better than a solo fourth.
While those three battle it out for the Race to Dubai honours there is of course the matter of who is going to win the actual tournament. With their minds on the big prize you'd consider ruling out the three contenders for the Race to Dubai title but with the form Rose is in how could you..
With wins in China and Turkey in the last three weeks (he didn't play the other tournament) the Englishman is in top form. He has also been placed 10th three times and has a second in his four outings before his wins.
He sat out the Nedbank Challenge last week and will hopefully be rejuvenated after his back-to-bacj exertions. While the likes of Fleetwood and Brandon Grace were battling it out on the final day in South Africa, Rose was in Dubai beginning his preparations early.
His odds are not that great but it’s hard to see passed him winning the tournament and the Race to Dubai title. GIR: 72.8% (12th). Putts per GIR: 1.779 (104th).
Defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick is also in a rich vein of form. Since winning the Omega European Masters he has been in the top 15 in all of his six appearances on Tour.
Last week at the Nedbank was marred by a second-round 77 but then shot two sub-70s for a T8 finish. I get the feeling he is not far away from that second win this season and what better place to get it. With the victory last year here and a fourth finish in 2015 Fitzpatrick looks a solid bet. GIR:70.8% (39th). Putts per GIR: 1.767 (56th).
One player who hasn’t been hitting the headlines but has some great form over the past couple of months is Eddie Pepperell. He has six top-10 finishes in his last eight tournaments.
In those are two T3s and two T5s with a sixth and seventh which is impressive by any standards. The only thing that go against him at the Earth Course is in his two appearances here his best finish is 26th.
He has only missed one cut in 10 and this has been his best season Tour, which will get even better with a good finish on Sunday. In this field he is definitely one of the form horses and at the prices being offered he is worth an each-way punt. GIR: 72.2% (19th). Putts per GIR: 1.78 (109th).
Recommended Bets
- 3pts win Justin Rose (6-1, Coral)
- 1.5pts ew Matthew Fitzpatrick (16-1, Ladbrokes)
- 1.5pts ew Eddie Pepperell (66-1, McBookie)
GambleAware
Not a bad day for my selections. Defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick (-10)moved to the top of the leader board by one after a second round 67. Justin Rose is two behind after a second round 70 and dropping a shot at the 18th. Tyrrell Hatton had a magnificent nine under par after also dropping a shot at the 18th. Tommy Fleetwood got himself back into the Race to Dubai title hunt fight with a seven under par 65 and his duel with Rose looks like going right to the wire.
Looks like being a thrilling finish on Sunday.