England’s Justin Rose can unseat World No. 1 Rory McIlroy atop of the Race to Dubai money list with a top-two finish in this week’s BMW Masters in Shanghai.
With six official events remaining this season Rose arrived in China’s financial capital currently trailing Euro 437,334 behind the Northern Irishman.
However for Rose to go ahead of the double Major winning McIlroy, then McIlroy, as the tournaments defending champion, would need to finish outside the top seven on the Lake Malaren Golf Club course.
England’s Justin Rose prepared to push Rory McIlroy all the way to the Race to Dubai victory tape. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Rose is returning to European Tour competition after capturing last fortnight’s non-Tour Turkish Airlines World Golf Final in Antalya.
And the 32-year old World No. 5, who first won the European money list title in 2007, has thrown the Race to Dubai gauntlet right at the feet of his Ryder Cup winning colleague.
“When I won the Order of Merit in 2007 it kind of felt like it happened out of the blue that season,” said Rose.
“But I now feel like if it happened again this season, it would come from a different place.
“It would come from has been a bit of a miraculous year, and a year when I seemed to play well in the right tournaments.
“So for it to happen this year, it would be a lot more meaningful based upon there’s been a lot of hard work that’s gone on between 2007 and now.
“I am a lot more aware of why I’m playing well, and a lot more sustainable into the future.
“And to be Number One of any tour around the world, especially the European Tour, that’s a huge goal and that would be a huge honour to be honest.
“So it’s got my attention for these next few events.”
Boosting Rose’s goal in capturing a second European No. 1 title in six years is not only a superb PGA Tour winning season, along with a recent success in Turkey, but his efforts in last month’s Ryder Cup.
Rose, competing in only his second Ryder Cup, won three of five points including the pivotal Sunday Singles defeat of Phil Mickelson.
“I’m still on a high from the Ryder Cup as I went to Turkey and won straightaway,” he said.
“So I’m hoping not to come down from that high just yet.
“I’m still feeling positive about everything.
“For some guys you can come back to real life and real tournaments and when you’re not in contention, the thrill of that week seems a million miles away from that you might be experiencing on the golf course if you are running 30th, 40th in the field.
“For me I’m lucky I was able to get into contention the very next tournament I played and I feed off all those positive memories of the Ryder Cup and put myself in position in Turkey.
“So while it is very important not to be in the past when you’re playing each individual tournament, you have got to cherish those memories, because what happened for me personally at the Ryder Cup on that Sunday are stories for the grand kids.”
McIlroy and Rose, who will play the opening Shanghai round together, will also be competing in next week’s $7m WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shenzhen.
However McIlroy will also have the opportunity to go further ahead of Rose as the Englishman has elected not to contest the back-to-back Barclays Singapore Open or UBS Hong Kong Open titles where McIlroy is entered.
The pair will then end their European Tour season at the November 22nd starting DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
