HENRIK STETSON SET FOR SUPER DOUBLE WHAMMY IN DUBAI

  Henrik Stenson in action today. Picture courtesy of Getty Images(c)

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

The Race to Dubai is set for a thrilling finale on the final day of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai with Henrik Stenson in pole position to complete a magnificent double.

The Swede, who also leads The Race to Dubai, has a one stroke advantage over Frenchman Victor Dubuisson after a five under par 67 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in the last event of the season, and victory on Sunday would guarantee him the crown of European Number One.

Standing in his way, however, are Englishmen Ian Poulter, whose 66 left him four strokes back, and Justin Rose, who had a 68 to remain six adrift. Both players can pip Stenson to the Race to Dubai title with victory, but the FedEx Cup winner is feeling confident after notching four birdies in the last five holes to regain the lead.

“If anything, it just makes me try even harder and focus harder,” said Stenson when asked how he felt about his rivals narrowing the gap. “I know the guys are going to try their hardest to attack again tomorrow.

“There's no point getting ahead of myself.  There's still one more day to go and I have to give it my best.  It's all about being in position on Sunday afternoon.

“I'm leading the tournament and I’ll be trying my hardest to win, because if I do that I know both trophies are going to come home with me. That’s my focus.”

Dubuisson won his maiden title in the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism last week and is once again in imperious form.

“The last three months, I've been working very hard on my putting and my short game,” he said. “I’m trying not to think about my win last week. When I arrived here on Tuesday, I just tried to think about this week.”

Poulter, who needs to win and Stenson to finish lower than second to win The Race to Dubai, was characteristically bullish ahead of the final round, saying: “I caught him at one stage today. I'll catch him again, don't worry about that. I’ve just got to keep hold of him.”

THIRD-ROUND AGGREGATES
Par 216 (3x72)

199 H Stenson (Swe) 68 64 67,

200 V Dubuisson  (Fra) 70 66 64

203 I Poulter (Eng) 69 68 66, A Cañizares  (Esp) 66 67 70,

204 M Jiménez (Esp) 72 66 66,

205 L Westwood (Eng) 70 70 65, J Rose (Eng) 70 67 68

206 R McIlroy  (Nir) 71 67 68, J Luiten (Ned) 73 68 65, L Donald  (Eng) 73 66 67

207 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 68 71 68, J Donaldson (Wal) 68 72 67, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 70 70

208 M Fraser (Aus) 67 69 72, F Molinari (Ita) 70 68 70, J Blixt  (Swe) 72 65 71, G McDowell  (Nir) 72 68 68, P Hanson (Swe) 70 68 70

209 M Ilonen  (Fin) 72 68 69, D Fichardt (RSA) 71 71 67

210 T Olesen (Den) 69 70 71, C Wood  (Eng) 73 66 71, G Coetzee (RSA) 74 67 69, R Sterne  (RSA) 70 70 70, P Larrazábal (Esp) 72 66 72

211 D Howell (Eng) 75 66 70, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 72 73 66, M Manassero (Ita) 71 72 68, R Fisher (Eng) 75 64 72, M Kaymer (Ger) 70 69 72

212 G Fernandez-Castaño  (Esp) 71 74 67, M Siem  (Ger) 75 67 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 76 70 66, D Horsey (Eng) 72 72 68

213 T Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 74, S Jamieson  (Sco) 73 70 70

214 L Oosthuizen  (RSA) 73 70 71, C Lee (Sco) 73 70 71, E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 71 72, T Björn (Den) 71 74 69

215 R Jacquelin (Fra) 77 66 72

216 D Lynn (Eng) 71 72 73, J Quesne  (Fra) 74 73 69, S Lowry  (Irl) 71 71 74, P Casey  (Eng) 75 68 73

217 B Rumford (Aus) 71 72 74, B Grace  (RSA) 76 70 71, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 71 75 71

218 M Warren (Sco) 74 71 73, S Khan (Eng) 72 72 74, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 76 70, F Aguilar (Chi) 79 66 73

219 S Gallacher (Sco) 77 71 71

220 P Uihlein  (USA) 72 72 76

223 T Aiken (RSA) 76 74 73

225 G Mulroy (RSA) 76 75 74

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS