Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello and England’s Tyrrell Hatton were the leading lights for the European Tour at the World Golf Championship in Mexico as they climbed up the Race to Dubai Rankings with a tied-third finish.
The European Tour duo produced a fine display with both signing off with a final round 67 as they finished one shot off a place in the final round playoff on 15 under par. Both men earned 510,500 Race to Dubai points with Hatton making his way into third place from 16th and Cabrera Bello surging from 20th to fourth. American Phil Mickelson took home the trophy after defeating fellow countryman Justin Thomas in a playoff after both finished 16 under par.
“Many congratulations to Rafa and Tyrrell on an impressive weekend at the WGC-Mexico Championship,” said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International, Dubai Office. “After both making up good ground in the Race to Dubai Rankings we look forward to seeing what the rest of the season has in store for these stars and hope to see both players at this year’s DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.”
Hatton had a terrific start to his final round with three birdies in his first four holes which gave him the lead in the first WGC event of the season but bogeys on nine and 11 dropped him back. The 26 year old would then go four under in his next six holes to put him back in the mix but a bogey on the last meant he agonisingly missed out on the playoff and had to settle for tied third.
“I felt I played good, I’ve been in contention,” said the three-time European Tour winner. “Maybe one or two mistakes, but I mean, I by no means feel that I lost anything. I’ve kind of always been in the hunt, a couple, one or two a few back from the leaders,” Unfortunately, that’s how it’s going to finish. But overall pretty pleased. A very good performance.”
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat continued his fine form after a final round 65 left him tied-fifth on 13 under par to help him achieve 330,500 Race to Dubai points. This means the Thai enters the Race to Dubai top ten once again after climbing from 12th to 5th with 653,160 points.
Reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia’s tied seventh finish saw him win 239,750 Race to Dubai points which leapfrogs the Spaniard from 87th to 16th with a season tally of 298,122.
Meanwhile, Race to Dubai leader Indian Shubhankar Sharma retained top spot in the Race to Dubai Rankings after a debut WGC event saw him finish tied ninth which gained the Indian 182,000 Race to Dubai points to leave him on 930,073 points.
The European Tour’s Tshwane Open also took place over the weekend in South Africa with home favourite George Coetzee topping the event with a sublime 18 under par to win his fourth European Tour event.
The South African’s victory saw him win 166,425 Race to Dubai points and moved him from 69th to 20th in the Race to Dubai with 241,677 points.
Englishman Sam Horsfield finished two off the leader to claim second place and gain 115,500 Race to Dubai points moving him from 66th to 28th with a season’s tally of 193,407 points.
The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, open to the top 60 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings, takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 15-18.
