Fleetwood hits back to keep Race running
REIGNING champion Matt Fitzpatrick claimed the halfway lead in the DP World Tour Championship after Tommy Fleetwood ensured the Race to Dubai battle would go right down to the wire.
Fitzpatrick had a second consecutive 67 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai to reach 10 under par, a shot ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, who he beat into second place last year.
Justin Rose, who would overhaul Fleetwood with a third consecutive victory tomorrow, was a shot further back after a costly three-putt bogey on the 18th.
And that meant Fleetwood had regained the upper hand – albeit by a narrow margin – in his bid to end the season as European No1.
A superb 65 lifted him 35 places in the field – within two shots of Rose.
“If I had shot level par or one under today everything was completely out of my hands,” said Fleetwood. “It was pressure in a different way. “I’ve kept myself in with a chance of the tournament but it’s only a big round if I keep it going. I don’t know whether Justin will be bothered or not. He is so strong mentally and he knows what he’s doing.” Rose said: “Every permutation is still in play. All I had to do was give myself a chance going into the weekend and that’s what I’ve done.” Fitzpatrick’s 67 included five birdies and an eagle and ensured he has not been outside the top eight in his past 10 rounds here. “The main focus is on Justin and Tommy and that’s just fine with me,” he said.