Paul Dunne has given himself a superb chance of entering the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, in the top ten of the Race to Dubai rankings after winning his maiden European Tour event at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old Irishman carded a flawless final round 61, capped by a chip in from 20 feet for birdie at the last, to finish three shots ahead of Rory McIlroy at the Close House Golf Club in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, claiming 562,500 points in the process to surge from 34h to 12thplace in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings.
The result sees Dunne’s season tally swell to 1,296,408 points, putting him in a strong position on the season rankings as the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 16-19, approaches. The top ten players in the Race to Dubai rankings following the conclusion of the season finale in Dubai will share in a lucrative US$5 million Bonus Pool.
Nick Tarratt, Director of the European Tour International Dubai office, said: “Paul is one of the rising stars on the European Tour and to win his first title in such style is a phenomenal achievement. We’re sure the Irish contingent here in Dubai will be looking forward to seeing him tee-off at Jumeirah Golf Estates next month. He spends a lot of time practicing at the European Tour Performance Institute at JGE when he’s not on Tour and he’s very familiar with the Earth course so we’ll be delighted to welcome him back as he makes his DP World Tour Championship debut.”
AWE-INSPIRING FINAL ROUND
Dunne came in to the final round of the British Masters, which was hosted this year by Lee Westwood, trailing Sweden’s Robert Karlsson by a single shot. However, he set the tone early, holing a chip for a birdie on the opening hole before making gains on the fourth and fifth on his way to turning in 30.
In the end, the man from Dublin held off a late charge from four time Major champion McIlroy to finish on 20 under par, bookending his round with another brilliant chip-in for birdie on the closing hole to seal his maiden European Tour triumph in style.
What a day! Thanks for all the support & messages. Thanks to all my sponsors. Very happy to be 2017 #BRITISHMASTERS champion @EuropeanTour pic.twitter.com/r9tTDy1sO1
— Paul Dunne (@dunners11) October 1, 2017
“It’s kind of a sense of relief to prove it to myself that I can get it done,” said Dunne, who came to prominence at the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews where he became the first amateur since 1927 to lead the Open after 54 holes.
“I think I’ve improved a lot mentally over the last year in these kind of situations. I feel like I’ve got a bit tougher mentally and I get excited to go out and look at the leaderboard, rather than trying to look at position.
“Obviously the money is great. It means I don’t have to worry about getting a job where I have to sit behind a desk. But after all this, you know, I really love playing golf, and I’ve been grateful.”
RACE TO DUBAI MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Meanwhile, it was a welcome return to the top of the leaderboard for former World Number One Rory McIlroy, whose runner-up finish in Newcastle-upon-Tyne sees him move from tenth to sixth place in the Race to Dubai rankings. The Northern Irishman now has a season-tally of 1,822,354 after picking up 374,996 points at the British Masters.
Rory McIlroy was on fire today 🔥
Here’s the best highlights from his 63… pic.twitter.com/KiKcTPEWFS
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 1, 2017
Karlsson’s lone third place finish earned him a useful tally of 211,275 points. The Swede, who won the 2010 DP World Tour Championship, now jumps from 164th to 98th place in the Race to Dubai rankings with a season total of 335,362 points. He’ll know that only a very strong finish to the season will see him have any chance of making it to next month’s season finale.
England’s Graeme Storm, who has already booked his place at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ next month, also made strides up the rankings with his tied fourth place finish at the Close House Golf Club. He’s now up nine places to 30th after picking up 143,325 points.
Another man who significantly improved his chances of qualifying for November’s DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, was Shane Lowry. The Irishman’s seventh place finish at the British Masters saw him earn 101,250 points to move from 78th to 62nd spot in the Race to Dubai rankings with a season tally of 487,918.
However, it’s still the Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who remains at the head of the Rankings with 3,771,122 points, whilst Spaniard Sergio Garcia is in second with a season-tally of 2,799,255 points and his young compatriot Jon Rahm sits in third spot on 2,761,857.
