The top five players in the Race to Dubai Rankings teeing it up this week at the DP World Tour Championship all have a chance of signing off as the 2019 European No.1 and Race to Dubai champion.
Here is our breakdown of who needs to do what in order to follow in Francesco Molinari’s footsteps as the winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy.
Current leader Bernd Wiesberger (4802.4 points) will win the Race to Dubai if he wins the tournament or finishes outright second place (regardless of who wins). With three wins under his belt – including two Rolex Series titles – it’s been a season to remember for the Austrian who soon will turn his attention to Ryder Cup qualification for 2020.
Great Year
Tommy Fleetwood (4079.8 points) turned a good year into a great one with a stunning victory at last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge and it gives him to opportunity to win the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years. The 28-year-old first won the Race to Dubai in 2017 and will win it again this year if he wins the DP World Tour Championship and Wiesberger finishes lower than solo second. There are other scenarios that would see Fleetwood finish ranked No.1 are including him finishing outright second and Wiesberger finishing outside the top three and neither Rahm or Lowry win the event. There are three more such outcomes that all require none of the other players in contention to win in order for Fleetwood to leapfrog Wiesberger at the top, the last one of which is finishing in a share of second place and relying on Wiesberger to finish lower than 42nd.
Win on Debut
Spain’s Jon Rahm (3898.3 points), who won the DP World Tour Championship on his debut in 2017, needs to win the tournament again and have Wiesberger finish lower than second if he is to win the Race to Dubai this week. He could also top the pile with a second place finish in the event if Wiesberger finishes outside the top five and neither Fleetwood, Lowry or Fitzpatrick win the event.
Open Champion
Shane Lowry (3613 points) wrapped up two huge wins this year at The Open and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and will win the Race to Dubai for the first time if he wins the DP World Tour Championship and Wiesberger finishes lower than tied second with one other player. He could also win it with a second place finish should Wiesberger drop out of the top 19 and neither Rahm, Fleetwood or Fitzpatrick win the event.
Smallest Chance
The 2016 DP World Tour Championship winner Matt Fitzpatrick has the smallest chance of winning the Race to Dubai this week. He needs to win again around Jumeirah Golf Estates and rely on Wiesberger finishing lower than fourth and Fleetwood lower than second.
