Super Swede Stenson moves two shots clear at the DP World Tour Championship Dubai
Reigning champion Henrik Stenson takes a two-shot lead into day three of the DP World Tour Championship after a second round six-under par 66 saw him move to the top of the leaderboard on ten under-par 134 on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The World Number Four fired in seven birdies to open up a two-shot advantage over Race to Dubai champion and World Number One Rory McIlroy, England’s Danny Willett and Richie Ramsay of Scotland on eight under 136.
It was an ominous round from Stenson who looked completely at home on a course where 12 months ago he collected both the DP World Tour Championship and The Race to Dubai crown after the most memorable year of his career.
“I’ve got a strong game plan the way I want to play this golf course and since I executed that really well last year I didn’t see much point changing it,” said the Swede, who has yet to successfully defend a title but has his sights set on being the first ever back-to-back winner of the DP World Tour Championship.
“I’m sticking to the same plan and just trying to execute it as well as I can and it has been solid from tee to green. I think my ball-striking was better yesterday but I was much better on the greens today and made some great putts for birdie. Around the 12th hole I felt like I was running out of steam so it was difficult mentally from there on. I had to really focus hard and drag myself over the finish line.”
Stenson will need all his physical and mental strength to keep McIlroy at bay. The 25 year-old, who had started the day in a two-way tie for the lead with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry, had a mixed bag of a round with a bogey-birdie-par finish that included a wayward tee shot into the water on the 18th, although he is well in contention for his second ‘Dubai Double’ in three years.
“I guess you’re going to get rounds like that when you’re coming back from a lay-off,” said McIlroy. “But I felt like I did well and ground out a score which was the main thing. I’m still pretty close to the lead, there are 36 holes to go, so I’m still in a good position. I’ve certainly been in worse positions after two days.
“But Henrik’s obviously very comfortable on this golf course and I can’t let him get too far ahead tomorrow. I have to get off to a fast start and try and put a bit of pressure on him. Hopefully I can do that. ”
Willett will tee off with Stenson in the last two-ball of the day on Saturday (Nov 22) and the Englishman has no plans to change the way he is tackling the 7,675-yard Earth course.
“Obviously Saturdays and Sundays always feel that little bit more difficult when you’re up there,” he said after a five under 67 that included seven birdies. “I’ve just got to keep playing good golf and staying patient, that’s the main thing. You can’t chase too much on this course because a couple of little misses here and there can cost you.”
For Ramsay, a third round pairing with McIlroy is the reward for rounds of 67 and 69 that have put him just two shots off the shoulder of Stenson. “It’s great to be up there,” said the Scot. “At the moment, my goal is to just try and stay patient and positive with two great days ahead. I’ve got to embrace it, go out there and have fun and hopefully the golf will take care of itself.”
It was a day of solid scoring over the Earth course with eight players all within three shots of the leader. Among them is overnight co-leader Lowry who saw his round explode into life with a six iron, hole-in-one – the first ace of his professional career – at the 183-yard 13th that won him a special prize from Official Hotel Atlantis, The Palm Dubai of accommodation for two night including breakfast and dinner for two in Yuan restaurant and access to Imperial club, Aquaventure and Lost Chambers.
It was the undoubted highlight in a relatively disappointing round of one under 71 that puts him in a five-way tie for fifth place with Englishman Justin Rose, Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, Swede Kristoffer Broberg and Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain, who shot the round of the day, an eight under par 64.
The Spaniard looked set to threaten Justin Rose’s course record 62 after opening with five successive birdies to go seven-under through ten until consecutive bogies on the next two holes temporarily halted his progress. An eagle and a birdie on the closing stretch, however, saw the former Dubai Desert Classic champion as the clubhouse leader for much of the day.
“With the best European players here, playing really good and everyone wanting to win, the score is going to be low,” said the Spaniard. “Five birdies to start was really and got me in the mood. But that can be dangerous because then you put a little bit of pressure on yourself and I made a couple mistakes, although I came back strongly on the last few holes.”
The DP World Tour Championship – the final event on The Race to Dubai – continues on Saturday (Nov 22) with play commencing at 7.40am before Stenson and Willett take to the course at 12.40pm.
The top 15 European Tour Race to Dubai Rankings as of 9 November following the Turkish Airlines Open. A US$5million Bonus Pool for The Race to Dubai will be divided among the leading 15 players at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship.
