Rose not putting pressure on himself ahead of DPWTC final day

Matt Jones - Editor 00:11 19/11/2017
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  • Justin Rose has the chance to win three successive tournaments for the first time in his career on Sunday but the new leader of the DP World Tour Championship isn’t putting any pressure on himself.

    He simply described his chance to win the European Tour’s season-ending Race to Dubai tournament as an “opportunity”.

    Rose takes a one-shot lead into the final day after posting a bogey-free round of 65 on Saturday, which included seven birdies – four of which came on the last seven holes.

    The Englishman has won on his last two European Tour starts – the WGC-HSBC Champions and Turkish Airlines Open – knowing another victory would see him overtake compatriot Tommy Fleetwood and be crowned Europe’s number one for the second time.

    Should Rose finish solo second on Sunday, Fleetwood would have to win to claim the Harry Vardon Trophy, with a host of permutations also in play as long as Rose finishes in the top five.

    “You couldn’t have scripted it much better,” said Rose after signing for a round of -7 under.

    “Tommy’s last two rounds of golf have been incredible. He’s there should I make any mistake. He’s doing everything he needs to do, I’m doing everything I need to do. So it’s set up for a wonderful final day.

    “It’s an opportunity, that’s the way I’m going to look at it. I don’t see much pressure on myself tomorrow. This is going to be a day just to go for it really and play well.

    “It’s not going to be the kind of day where, say, 10 years ago when I had a big lead just try to hang on. It’s not going to be that kind of day tomorrow. There’s going to be a lot of good players and it’s going to be a day where you have to play good golf.”

    Victory for the 37-year-old Englishman would add to a long list of accolades. He won the European Tour’s Order of Merit in 2007, taking over Ernie Els and holding off a late surge from defending champion Padraig Harrington.

    He has since gone on to win the 2013 US Open and even a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. Fleetwood is in a very similar position to Rose a decade ago, having led the Race to Dubai standings for a long period.

    And Rose isn’t sure he is the favourite, just because he is 11 years Fleetwood’s senior and has been in this position before.

    “There’s two ways to think about it,” he said.

    “Tommy’s had the pressure of leading all year. He’s now being chased down. It’s going to feel different for him.

    “I’ve played today with a lot of freedom, like I had nothing to lose. Does that feel strange because I’m now leading in to tomorrow? I see it as an opportunity and I think it’s going to take a great round of golf to win this. There’s so many guys in it.”

    One of those guys is Rose’s playing partner from Saturday, Jon Rahm, who was also superb in posting an identical 65, despite opening with two fives.

    He holed eight birdies in all, including three on the final four holes to take a share of second, one shot behind Rose.

    And despite being at the top of the board, Rose says there are too many players on his heels to predict what will happen on Sunday.

    “We (Rose and Rahm) had a great time out there,” said Johannesburg-born Rose.

    “He’s playing great golf. I think everybody played great golf today. I saw Tommy’s name creep up on the board. It’s brilliant. It’s just so much fun and a ton of guys tomorrow. It’s really condensed.

    “A one-shot lead with a pack like that behind you doesn’t mean much. It’s just going to be whoever comes out tomorrow and really plays well.”

    Rahm, 23, the newly-crowned European Tour Rookie of the Year, was happy with his near-flawless day.

    “I’m kind of a perfectionist. I always find flaws. But to be honest, it was as close to a flawless round as I’m going to play,” said the Spaniard.

    “At number one, I had hit a perfect driver; it just went in the bunker. But besides that the rest was absolutely flawless.

    “If this doesn’t build momentum, I don’t know what’s going to. My last 27 holes, I’m 13-under par. Take into account the back nine yesterday [Saturday] and the round today. I’m feeling good. Hopefully I can keep doing the same thing tomorrow [Sunday].”

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