Perez Paves The Way On Day One At DP World.

3 years ago by Comments Off on Perez Paves The Way On Day One At DP World.

The French tricolour seems to be a regular fixture of late on European Tour leader-boards.

Four days after Antoine Rozner became the latest French champion and past Tour winner and countryman, Victor Perez muscled his way to the top of the board on day one of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

The Dundee-based Perez posted an opening 67 and for the current No. 6 on the Race to Dubai immediately projected to finish at No. 1 should he retain his place ahead of the 65-player field competing in the $US 8m on the Earth course at Jumeirah Estates.

England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and South African Erik Van Rooyen opened with four under par 68s, with two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer, 2017 Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood, three-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton and Finland’s Sami Valimaki a shot further back.

Leading Race to Dubai money-earner Patrick Reed, and looking to become the first American in the 48-year history of the European Tour, holed a birdie gem at the last and much to the delight of a packed corporate box behind the green, to be just three off the lead thanks to a two-under par 70.

Though they’re all chasing Perez.

Last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links champion had six birdies in his round and with his only dropped at the fourth hole.

“As always on these tough courses, tough pins today, they really put up a good setup with some of the pins,” said Perez, who has twice finished as a runner-up in Rolex Series events this season.

“It was just about holing a few good putts, driving the ball well, doing everything fairly well but obviously making a few putts, which you need those types of days.

“In the position I’m in, I have nothing to lose. I have everything to gain. So for me it’s really a going-for-it mentality that I have to keep for four rounds.

Obviously, you still have to play proper golf and hit the right shots and sometimes take your medicine, but again, I have really nothing to lose, and it’s a matter of making a lot of birdies.”

Reed began the week with a 460-point lead over Fleetwood in the standings, but with 2,000 points on offer to the winner it is mathematically possible for 61 of the 65-man field to finish top of the money list and claim the Harry Vardon Trophy.

MacIntyre was last year crowned ‘Rookie of the Year’ and a year on he’s knocking loudly on the door for a European Tour No. 1 and, if successful, he would be the first Scot since Colin Montgomerie in 2005 to win the Race to Dubai.

“It would mean everything to win the Race to Dubai, not just to me but to the whole team,” the 24-year-old said.

“But again, it’s a long, long way away. Just gotta keep doing what we’re doing.

“When I put in the graft and put in the practice, my golf is good. Obviously as everyone knows, I wasn’t practising as hard (earlier in the year). I wasn’t enjoying it as much. But I’ve got the bug back. I’ve got the right people around me and I’m just pushing on and see where we end up on Sunday.”

Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship in 2016 to eclipse Sir Nick Faldo’s record as the youngest Englishman to win three times on the European Tour, but finished only sixth on the money list behind Open champion Henrik Stenson.

“To be able to have a chance to win the Race to Dubai despite everything that’s going on is amazing and absolutely I’d be delighted if I could take the opportunity that I have,” said Fitzpatrick.

 



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