Dubai: Tommy Fleetwood bounced back from a first-round 73 to card a seven-under 65 on day two of the DP World Tour Championship on Friday, breathing new life into his Race to Dubai title chances in the process.
Fleetwood now stands six-under for the tournament, tied for 11th, while his nearest rival in the money-list Justin Rose is just two strokes ahead after following up an opening 66 with a 70 to sit tied for third on eight-under.
Rose needs to finish no worse than solo fifth to stand any chance of overtaking Fleetwood in the money-list, while Fleetwood just needs to equal or better Rose’s finishing position to claim the overall series’ title in this last event of the season.
After Rose’s first-round 66 left him tied for second, seven shots clear of Fleetwood, tied for 46th on 73, it had seemed an upset was on the cards. However, Fleetwood pulled himself back into contention on Friday, on a day where Rose struggled to get ahead.
“At least my name is somewhere now, rather than the wrong end of the leaderboard,” said Fleetwood, who got four birdies on either nine, bogeying only the seventh.
“I’m glad with myself that I played well today. Yesterday, I left the course feeling a little bit sour.
“You’re always disappointed when you don’t shoot a good score. But I still didn’t count myself out of the tournament at all.
“If I had shot the same score today, then I would, but luckily I got a good score today.
“The sole focus was to try and get back in the tournament today. I knew I needed a low one. I’m definitely a lot better off than I was at the start of the day.”
Rose carded two birdies on either nine but also bogeyed on eight and 18, for a slower follow-up to his opening 66.
“It’s a slightly frustrating round,” said Rose. “If I look back there were probably a lot of chances I could have taken. I could have been three or four better. But at the same time, it’s a good mark. It’s a good solid effort after yesterday and to have got off to this strong start puts me in a great position for the weekend.
“If somebody said on Wednesday I’d be in this position after two rounds, I’d have taken it. It’s a position you can build on over the weekend.
“From Tommy’s point of view it’s a great bounce-back after yesterday. But it doesn’t really make much difference to me in my mindset.
“It might make a difference on Sunday because I know there’s tons of permutations still. But in terms of my task, it doesn’t make too much difference.”
