For the primary time all week, a brand new man occupies the highest spot on the leaderboard of the 2022 DP World Tour Championship. Former world No. 1 Jon Rahm was merely sensible round Jumeirah Golf Estates on Saturday en route to his bogey-free 7-under 65. Carding seven birdies for the second consecutive day, the Spaniard has slowly meandered his means to 15 beneath and possesses a one-stroke lead over Matt Fitzpatrick.
With 4 birdies in his opening eight holes, a second of unease arose on the tough par-4 ninth. Making bogey on this gap the primary two days, Rahm was pressured to chip out of bother earlier than changing a momentum-saving par putt from simply inside 15 toes. Adding three birdies on his inward half, Rahm has now positioned himself to develop into the primary man to win the DP World Tour Championship thrice.
“I don’t think I could have shot any lower today,” Rahm mentioned. “Maximized the round. Wasn’t my best off the tee but I was able to actually get some birdies out of some not so good situations. I didn’t hit any of the fairways on the par fives and still played them three-under par. I’m hoping come tomorrow I can be a little better off the tee, and still keep the good iron play and good putting going.”
First-round chief and 36-hole chief Fitzpatrick shall be positive to apply some stress because the Englishman battles for each the DP World Tour Championship and the season-long race. At 14 beneath, he’s within the precarious place of trailing not solely Rahm, but additionally Rory McIlroy because the world No. 1 is projected to win the Harry Vardon Trophy after his spherical of 7-under 65.
“Something I’ve learnt massively this year is to be more patient,” Fitzpatrick mentioned. “I’m not the best at it. I’ve got so much better, probably, since being told off by Billy [Foster, his caddie] in April. So I think that’s been a big thing that’s come on for me is just being patient and knowing that I’m playing some good golf. I feel really comfortable with my irons this week, and that’s been a big, big change and a big step forward over the last few months. So, I’m looking forward going into tomorrow.
“It would imply the world [to win the DP World Tour Rankings]. I’m going to want quite a lot of issues go my means,” Fitzpatrick added. “I really feel like this…could possibly be a 3rd win right here, and if it occurs, it could possibly be all thrice I’ve not gained [the DP World Tour Rankings].”
McIlroy started his second spherical in a unstable vogue as two bogeys sandwiched an eagle in his first three holes. Making birdie on seven of his ultimate 14 holes, the Northern Irishman has returned to the pole place within the season-long race forward of the ultimate 18 holes. McIlroy will try to be a part of Henrik Stenson as the one males to win each the DP World Tour and PGA Tour season-long titles in the identical yr.
Round 3 leaderboard, scores
- 1. Jon Rahm: -15
- 2. Matt Fitzpatrick: -14
- 3. Alex Noren: -13
- T4. Rory McIlroy: -12
- T4. Tyrrell Hatton: -12
- T6. Tommy Fleetwood: -10
- T6. Adrian Meronk: -10
- 8. Jorge Campillo: -9
- T9. Maximilian Kieffer: -8
- T9. Kurt Kitayama: -8
DP World Tour Rankings up within the air heading into ultimate day
Coming into the week, solely seven gamers have been ready to win the DP World Tour Rankings. Through three rounds, this quantity has probably whittled down to solely two as Fitzpatrick and McIlroy vie for the season-long crown. After commanding the lead the primary two days, Fitzpatrick was projected to declare the title, however the four-time main champion has battled again with a vengeance courtesy of rounds of 68-65. Here are the eventualities for every participant heading into the pivotal ultimate spherical.
- Rory McIlroy: If he wins or finishes forward of the opposite six, he wins the season-long race
- Matt Fitzpatrick: Has to end in high two and have McIlroy end worse than seventh
“It’s really cool, I’ve got to this stage in the game over 15 years as a pro, and I’m still trying to do things for the first time,” McIlroy mentioned. “I’ve never won the FedExCup and this tour’s rankings in the same year, so it would be really nice. It’s been a wonderful year. I’ve played some really, really great golf and really consistent golf. If I’m able to go out there tomorrow and shoot a good score and get the job done, it would be a really nice way to end what’s been a great year.”
2022 DP World Tour Championship up to date odds and picks
- Jon Rahm: 11/10
- Matt Fitzpatrick: 14/5
- Rory McIlroy: 9/2
- Alex Noren: 9-1
- Tyrrell Hatton: 12-1
This is harking back to the previous Tour Championship on the PGA Tour for these unfamiliar with the DP World Tour Rankings. Rahm, Noren and Hatton haven’t any probability to win the season-long crown whereas Fitzpatrick and McIlroy will shoulder the stress of making an attempt to declare victory in each the event at hand and the DP World Tour Rankings. With these odds making use of strictly to the DP World Tour Championship, Rahm seems to be to be the fairest worth and can stay our choice to win.