Ryan Fox loses ground in Dubai – Min Woo Lee improves
Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton – joint leaders through 36 holes – photo Getty Images
At the halfway stage of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai New Zealand’s Ryan Fox faces a mammoth task if he is to have any chance of holding on to his current second place in the DP World Tour standings.
Fox finds himself six shots behind the leader leading into this event, Rory McIlroy, and a massive 13 shots from the leaders Tyrrell Hatton and Mathew Fitzpatrick in the season ending event.
In the projected standings through 36 holes Fitzpatrick has taken over as the potential winner of the DP World Tour rankings and McIlory has slipped to 2nd while for Fox, who entered the week within striking distance of McIlroy, he is now in a projected 3rd place after opening rounds of 73 and 72 to find himself in a share of 37th position in this week’s 50 player field.
An eagle at the 18th hole in today’s second round after an approach to 3 feet at the par 5 has been the only real highlight for Fox over the opening two days and he will need something very special over the weekend it he is to improve his standing in the season long race.
McIlroy is seven shots from the lead at 5 under after a second round of 68 but he will need improvement himself and a little help from Fitzpatrick if he is to claim the title as Europe’s top golfer in 2022.
If Fitzpatrick were to win a second Rolex Series title in Dubai, he would need World Number One Rory McIlroy to finish worse than second. However, if the 28-year-old were to finish runner-up, McIlroy would need to finish the week worse than seventh for Fitzpatrick to end the year as European Number One for the first time.
So there is still much to play for over the closing 36 holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The only Australian in the field, Min Woo Lee, improved with a second round of 67 to be tied for 8th at 6 under and six off the lead.
“I didn’t start very good. I made a double on 4 yesterday,” said Lee. “Other than that hole, I’ve played very solid throughout the other 32 holes. So I’m pretty happy with where I am, and hopefully a couple more birdies on the weekend and get myself up there.”
Also at stake for Lee over the next few weeks is the possibility in this event and events in Australia to force his way into the top 50 in the world ranking which would guarantee him starts in the majors next year and he is very much aware of that.
“Yeah, it’s obviously in the back of my mind, getting into the Masters next year and getting into a few of the majors,” said the Perth golfer. “I’m happy with the way my game is now. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself the last few months and it’s working out.
“I’m out there enjoying. Kids are following, and I was telling my caddie, that was me ten years ago. Just put a smile on their face, and keep playing good golf and hopefully it fixes everything.”
