In this, a season in which Rory McIlroy took leave from social media after being subject to one insult too many, Tommy Fleetwood gleaned motivation from the same platform. He does not know who scoffed at the concept of him winning the Race to Dubai title; he does, however, admit this proved an incentive. Fleetwood is within touching distance of the last laugh.
“I remember seeing a tweet and somebody laughed at the thought of me winning, so that motivated me a bit more,” Fleetwood said. “Somebody had put: ‘Who do you think will win the Race to Dubai?’ I wasn’t included in the names listed and [the putting coach] Phil Kenyon said: ‘What about the current leader?’ and somebody laughed. To be fair, maybe it wasn’t all that wrong at the time. You see things all the time, don’t you, on social media. Little things like that always motivate you. I don’t remember who it was.”
So here we are, with four days of the European Tour season to play, and Fleetwood holds a lead of around €260,000 on Justin Rose in the order of merit table. Fleetwood, as is typical, was impressively confident and relaxedon Wednesday. “It will be a perfect way to end a year that’s been amazing,” the 26-year-old said. “It would mean a lot. There’s no denying it or getting away from it. There’s no saying, I just want to play my own game and not think about it. I think that’s just pretty much impossible.”
Fleetwood, who has enjoyed an extraordinary rise this year, was in no mood to play down the significance of the order of merit. “It’s funny, because you do look at individual events like the majors,” he said. “They are the ones everybody wants to win. I think it is a bit harsh that a lot of people’s careers are defined by four events, and the end of the day anybody can have a hot week with the putter and win. Over the course of a year it’s a lot more difficult and I think it does hold a lot of respect with your peers, having that consistency throughout a year.”
Fleetwood knows victory at the DP World Tour Championship will be enough to take the prize. Rose, of course, has aspirations of turning the tables. Sergio García will win the Race to Dubai only in the event of a tournament win while Fleetwood finishes outside the top four and Rose the top 20.
“It’s not intimidating or stressful in any way,” Fleetwood said. “I’m not sure nervous is the right word but it’s like the good kind of nerves where you’re trying to win the Race to Dubai. It’s not by any means a burden.
“It’s actually an amazing opportunity and it’s a massive privilege to be playing. I’m turning up tomorrow, final event of the year; I’m playing with Justin Rose trying to win a Race to Dubai. Sergio could win it, as well. Sergio, Justin Rose and then me, that’s pretty cool. This is just another test, another experience, and it’s something that’s going to make me a better golfer at the end of it, whether I do well or not.”
Asked whether theoretically he would bet on himself or Rose to prevail, Fleetwood did not waiver. “I would put my money on me,” he said. “Every day.”
Rose, who won the Race to Dubai a decade ago, has rebounded brilliantly in a year that could otherwise have been most notable for losing a play-off to García at the Masters. “I would still take Tommy’s chances,” Rose said. “There are no givens in golf. His lead is significant, it means I’ve got to play well.
“I didn’t want to be too far behind Tommy; that if he finished second, I still couldn’t win. So in some ways controlling my destiny from that point of view is important to me.
“I like the fact I don’t have to think about anybody else. Maybe Tommy does, there’s more scenarios in play that way whereas for me I think I can just focus on playing good golf and get to the top of the leaderboard. That’s as simple as I’m trying to keep it this week.
“To win the Race to Dubai I have to contend in this tournament one way or another. I need to finish towards the top end of the leaderboard, and if you’re going to finish at the top end, you may as well focus on trying to win the tournament.
“The objective it quite simple and quite clear from that point of view. But like I said, it’s Wednesday, it’s too early to think about winning. Thursday is too early to think about winning. Friday is too early to think about winning. It’s just about putting myself in position, and then getting it done when you have that chance.”
