Stenson one step away from the Dubai Double at the DP World Tour Championship

Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson goes into today’s (Sunday) final round of the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai with a slender one shot lead after a third round of sensational golf on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The World Number Three is just 18 holes away from becoming the first golfer to win both the FedExCup in the US and The European Tour’s Race to Dubai in the same season, despite a blistering surge by his nearest rivals for the crown.

A third round 67 (-5) to finish 17-under par was enough to maintain the Swede’s lead over the field on a day when Frenchman Victor Dubuisson threatened to burn up the Earth course with a rollercoaster round of 64 (-8) that included 11 birdies after bogeying the first.

Dubuisson – described by Stenson as “the hottest player on the planet right now” – is now the Swede’s nearest challenger to the DP World Tour Championship on 16-under par.

“I’ve never played with Victor before so I hope he doesn’t take me by surprise tomorrow,” smiled Stenson after a birdie four on the par-five 18th kept him out in front going into the final round of The Race to Dubai.

“I’ve heard all the scenarios of how I can win The Race to Dubai without winning the tournament but I don’t want to think about that. At this stage, I’m leading the tournament so why should I not try my hardest to win it? Because if I do that both titles are coming home with me.”

It was a hard fought round by Stenson who found birdies difficult to come by on the front nine – just two to Dubuisson’s six. But a hot spell on the back nine saw him roll in four birdies on the closing five holes to give him the edge going into the final day.

While Stenson and Dubuisson will share the spotlight at the front of the 56-man field, Stenson’s Race to Dubai rival Ian Poulter is far from throwing in the towel after a gutsy 66 (-6) gave the Englishman a share of third place four shots behind the leader.

“I feel I’ve done my job today,” said Poulter who will steal The Race to Dubai title from Stenson if he wins the tournament and the Swede finishes outside the top two. “I’ve made plenty of birdies and I could have got a bit closer, but I’m in with a shout and I can’t ask for more than that coming into the last day of the year.”

Asked about the sportsman’s bet between the two, Poulter admitted it was adding spice to the occasion. “It’s the most fun I’ve had on the golf course for some time and I’m sure every time he looks at the leader board, he’s wanting me to go the other way, and I’m wanting him to come back a little bit. I think if I shoot 65 tomorrow, it’s going to be a nice score – but if I play like I did today then a 62 is realistic. I’m playing great golf and I’m in with a shout.”

Tied with Poulter on 13-under par is Spain’s Alejandro Canizares (70), while Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez is in fifth place on twelve under after a third round 66 (-6). English pair Justin Rose (68) and Lee Westwood (65) are in a tie for sixth place on 11-under, while defending champion Rory McIlroy is a tie for eighth on 10-under alongside Luke Donald of England and Dutchman Joost Luiten.

The final round will get under way today (Sunday) at Jumeirah Golf Estates with the first players teeing off at 7.15am and the final pairing of Stenson and Dubuisson off at 11.55am. Free tickets for the 2013 DP World Tour Championship are available by registering online at the official website www.DPWTC.com