Stenson passes Rose to take the Race to Dubai lead

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson leads The Race to Dubai after finishing tied for second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

It was the third consecutive top three finish for the in-form Swede and takes him to the top of the rankings as the best players on The European Tour chase a place at the season finale DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, to be staged on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 14-17 November.

“I played well in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and did really well at The Open so I’m getting used to going out last and playing well,” said World Number 11 Stenson, who now heads to the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill on Thursday (August 8) with a strong chance of becoming the first Swede to lift one of golf’s Majors.

With eventual winner Tiger Woods enjoying a comfortable seven-stroke lead going in to the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone, the leading lights of The European Tour were always going to be chasing a strong finish and valuable Race to Dubai ranking points.

Among the major movers were Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who finished in a tie for fourth place, and England’s Chris Wood – tied seventh – who all but secured their places at the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship by moving to 26th and 19th respectively in The Race to Dubai.

Stenson currently leads the way on €1,705,706 from twelve events with US Open Champion Justin Rose – tied for 17th place at the WGC-Bridgestone – dropping to second place followed by Graeme McDowell for Northern Ireland in third place, South African Richard Sterne in fourth and Italy’s Matteo Manassero in fifth.

Only the top 60 players on The European Tour prior to the final event of the season will qualify for the DP World Tour Championship, which also offers a Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of $3.75m to be divided amongst the top ten players in The Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the tournament.