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28 March 2024

Swede Stenson steady in Race to Dubai climax

Alejandro Canizares of Spain on the 4th tee during the first round of the DP World Tour Championship, on the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 14, 2013 in Dubai. (GETTY)

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By Agencies

Henrik Stenson was the best of those vying to win the European money list with a four-under 68 in Thursday's first round of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship, two shots behind surprise leader Alejandro Canizares.

World number three Stenson, England's Justin Rose and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell can clinch the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit, with victory in the season finale.

The Swede - the Race to Dubai leader - sunk three birdies in the opening seven holes and was steady on the back nine before three-putting on the final hole at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

"I'm playing nicely and I just let my focus slip on the last - I'm tired and it's hard work out there," Stenson, 37, told reporters. "I hit a lot of fairways and some nice approach shots into the green, it's just tough to read them - everyone had a few chances that went by.

"All the guys are running on fumes - probably a quarter of the field is battling injuries at this point of the season."

Rose admitted he was not at his best as the US Open champion finished two-under 70 in a solid, if unspectacular, round that saw him drop his first shot of the day on the 17th.

"I mishit a lot of shots today - they weren't really getting me into trouble, but I wasn't firing on all cylinders," said Rose. "Patience is a big part of it so at no point today was I worried about where Henrik was."

McDowell has never made the top-10 in Dubai and he started poorly to be three-over with five holes to play.

But the world number 11 sunk a short birdie on the 14th, clawed back another shot on the 15th with a 15-footer and claimed a third birdie in successive holes on the 16th with a 25-foot putt for round of 72.

"That was key to getting back into the middle of the pack," said McDowell. "I could have shot myself out of it. It's very much a case of not letting this golf course get to me too early in the week. I've let these greens get in my head in the past."

England's Ian Poulter and Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who can also win the money list should they prevail in Dubai and Stenson finishes third or lower, scored 69 and 68 respectively.

"Every time I had a putt it was a slippery little put," said Poulter. "Downhill, left-to-right, right-to-left - really awkward and the greens are quick so it's hard to hit it as firm as you want to because if it misses it's going five feet past.

"They're tricky to read so I'm walking away frustrated from today's round but happy to be only three behind."

The day belonged to Spain's Canizares. The world number 184 matched McDowell's birdie run from 14 to 16 and dropped just one shot all round to card 66.

Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Australia's Marcus Fraser are one behind on 65 and would have been tied for the lead had they both not dropped shots on the 620-yard 18th.

Former world number one Rory McIlroy, seeking a first win of 2013, sank birdies in three of the opening four holes on a cloudless morning as girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki looked on.

But bogeys on the fifth and eighth holes stymied McIlroy's charge, and although the defending Dubai champion birdied the seventh he dropped another shot after finding the water on the 18th to end on 71.

But while Stenson and the big guns entertain thoughts of winning the season-long Race to Dubai, for Canizares - ranked 54th in The Race to Dubai – the target is a tournament win in the fifth staging of the DP World Tour Championship.

Seven birdies and one bogey saw him finish the day with a 66 to move one shot ahead of Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Australia’s Marcus Fraser who both finished with a five under par 67.
“I played very solid but didn't do anything extraordinary although I holed some good putts,” said Canizares. “I was pretty steady overall and am quite happy with the score so far.”

Thursday’s opening round got off to a flying start thanks to a special performance from the British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – better known as the Red Arrows - who saluted the 56 strong field with a unique golfing fly past.

The distinctive red jets marked the occasion at exactly 12.35pm, just five minutes before Stenson and Rose hit their opening tee shots on the Earth Course.

Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the Red Arrows during their five engagements at the Dubai Air Show later this week. Officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows represent the United Kingdom and have been thrilling crowds, at home and overseas, since the 1960s.

Play will resume again Friday at Jumeirah Golf Estates with the first players teeing off at 8am. Free tickets for the 2013 DP World Tour Championship are available by registering online at the official website www.DPWTC.com.