Rahm holds off Fleetwood for double Dubai delight

Dubai, November 24

Spain’s Jon Rahm claimed the Race to Dubai title today after he held off fellow contender Tommy Fleetwood to secure a one-shot victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Rahm opened up a six-shot advantage after seven holes at the Jumeirah Golf Estates before Fleetwood made a late charge, finishing with a final round 65 to set the clubhouse target at 18-under.

Needing a birdie at the final hole to beat Fleetwood’s mark, Rahm produced a sublime bunker shot to within three feet before rolling home to secure the Harry Vardon Trophy.

The 25-year-old Rahm became the second Spaniard after the late Seve Ballesteros to win the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai crown or its predecessor, the Order of Merit.

“Seve was such an idol for us,” Rahm said. “To put my name there, it’s hard to believe. I can’t believe some of the things I have accomplished.” Fleetwood’s putter was hot on the back nine as he holed long putts on the 15th and 17th before a spectacular chip on the last moved him alongside Rahm, who scripted a remarkable finish of his own to lift his sixth European Tour title.

Rahm takes home $3 million for his win in Dubai as well as a $2 million bonus for topping the 2019 money list.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre won the 2019 rookie race with a solid round of 69 to finish tied-14th. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy finished seven shots off the lead with a sluggish round of 73, one clear of last year’s Dubai winner Danny Willett.

Todd eyes three-peat

Washington: In-form Brendon Todd surged into a two-shot lead at the RSM Classic in Georgia to leave himself within sight of a third consecutive PGA Tour victory.

Todd, who won last week’s Mayakoba Classic in Mexico after a victory in Bermuda earlier this month, carded a superb 8-under-par 62 at the Sea Island’s Seaside Course on Saturday to lead by two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round.

The American journeyman, whose only other win on the PGA Tour before this year was a victory at the 2014 Byron Nelson Championship, had started Saturday’s third round tied for seventh. But the 34-year-old from Pittsburgh produced a scintillating charge over the front nine to quickly advance through the field, notching four birdies in his opening five holes to move to 4-under. — Agencies