Uihlein makes bee line for the DP World Tour Championship

Despite missing out on winning the second European Tour title of his young career, 23 year-old American Peter Uihlein has secured his first ever appearance at the end of season DP World Tour Championship, Dubai following his runner-up finish at the ISPS Handa Wales Open.

The former World Amateur Number One, Uihlein had gone into the final round leading by three shots but had to settle for second after a fantastic finish by Frenchman Gregory Bourdy over the famous Celtic Manor Resort course.

But with the runners-up cheque of €232,440 safely in hand, Uihlein has fired up to 26th in The Race to Dubai standings and is assured of a place at the $8 million DP World Tour Championship, to be staged from 14-17 November on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Open to the top 60 players on The European Tour, the DP World Tour Championship is the dramatic conclusion to The Race to Dubai. And with €664,772 banked from 18 tournaments – including his maiden Tour victory at the Madeira Islands Open in Portugal in May – Uihlein knows his place is secure.

“I gave myself a chance to win again but hats off to Gregory who played great golf over the last few holes,” said Uihlein, son of Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO of the Acushnet Company, manufacturer of golf brands such as Titleist. “I wasn’t that strong on the final day and it was tough and windy but when a player plays like Gregory did to close out the round, what can you do?”

While Uihlein is a major mover in The Race to Dubai standings, the more experienced Bourdy is also assured of a place at the DP World Tour Championship after crashing into the top twenty thanks to a winner’s cheque of €348,660, which takes him to season’s earnings of €751,936. The only mover in the top ten was Australian Brett Rumford who moved from tenth to seventh place.

“The success of Gregory and Peter just goes to show that even in the latter stages of the season big moves can be made in The Race to Dubai,” said European Tour International Director, Dubai Office Nick Tarratt.

“There is still a lot of prize-money to be played for and I am sure we are going to see many more twists and turns in The Race to Dubai before the top 60 are confirmed for the DP World Tour Championship in November.”

Over the coming weeks, The European Tour International Schedule will see tournaments in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Scotland, France, Portugal and Australia before The Final Series takes the players to two events in China and one in Turkey before the thrilling conclusion to the season, the DP World Tour Championship, on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Tickets for the four-day DP World Tour Championship are free of charge and can be obtained now by registering online at the event website www.DPWTC.com.