Open Champion Henrik Stenson is just four rounds from securing a second Race to Dubai title in four years at this week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in South Africa.
The Swede is 252,163 points in front of Danny Willett in second place and secure the Race to Dubai, after first capturing the European Tour No. 1 crown in 2013, should he win this week and Willett is outside the top 10.
And Stenson’s task has been made easier as the No. 3 Race to Dubai ranked Rory McIlroy has opted out of competing in this week’s $US 7m event.
However both Stenson and Willett are no strangers to victory at Sun City with Stenson banking the Nedbank first prize cheque in 2008 while Willett is the defending champion.
Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett – The Swede would win a second Race to Dubai title this week if he wins and Willett is outside the top-10. (Photo – European Tour)
Both Stenson and Willett have enjoyed success at the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge in the past, in 2008 and 2015 respectively, so it is sure to be an intriguing battle as they tussle for prominence in the Race to Dubai heading into next week’s Dubai’s finale.
“I’ve had a really good year behind me and it would be nice to finish it off with being Europe’s Number One,” said Stenson. “I’m sure Danny’s going to try and find some game here for the last couple of weeks and push me to the limit.
“It’s a great chance for me to stay in that Number One spot, if I play some solid golf these last two tournaments.
“If I were to get anywhere near a win, or win one of them, then I would imagine it would be a done deal. I’ve just got to go out there and try and play solid for four rounds here, and for four rounds in Dubai, and hopefully that will be good enough to stay Number One.
“This is a course where I’ve played some good golf in the past and been successful over the five or six times that I’ve been, so I’m looking forward to the week.”
Willett is also a man who knows his way around the Gary Player Country Club which has hosted this event since its first staging in 1981, having triumphed here two years ago and finished tied fourth earlier this season.
While the Masters Champion’s recent form has not been to the high standards he has set himself in the last two years, it is less than two months since the 29 year old narrowly missed out on a sixth European Tour title, finishing runner-up at the Italian Open.
“Me and Henrik have both had fantastic years, both picking up our first Major and both had good showings elsewhere around the world, and now boils down to two events where I am back to chasing,” he said.
“I’m a little bit behind him so I’m going to try to make up some ground this week and hopefully try to make up ground next week or fend him off and see how everything goes. We’ve both got pretty good track records around this golf course, as well, so it could be interesting.”
* Thanks to European Tour.
