2013 European Tour Golf: Henrik Stenson Hangs On In Dubai
By Les Bailey
It’s turning into a dogfight in Dubai, but Henrik Stenson held on to get into the clubhouse with a one-shot lead after three rounds at the DP World Tours Championship, Dubai on Saturday afternoon. The 37 year-old Swede has gotten some game from last weeks winner, Victor Dubuisson for the tournament lead, and is feeling some pressure from Ian Poulter for the Race To Dubai Title.
Stenson has a one-shot lead over the young Frenchman, but needed birdie at the 18th hole to get that lead. He fired a five under par 67 at the Greg Norman designed, Jumeriah Golf Estates Earth Course on Saturday and had one bogey at the tenth hole. Henrik Stenson is chasing history in the United Arab Emirates by trying to be the first person in history to win the FedEx Cup Championship, and the Race To Dubai.
Dubuisson carded an eight under par 64 on Saturday afternoon to get a solid handle on second place, and will play the final round with the leader on Sunday. The third-round 64 came with a phenomenal eleven birdies after he made bogey at the first hole, and a double at the tenth. The 23 year-old from Cannes, picked a great deal of confidence last week by winning the Turkish Airlines Open.
Ian Poulter shot a six under par 66 on Saturday to keep the Race To Dubai pressure on Stenson. Poulter is currently in fourth place in the RTD, and if he were to win the tournament on Sunday, Henrik would need to finish second to win the title. Poulter finished the day in a tie for third place with Alejandro Canizares at 13 under par, and four shots back.
RTD number two, Justin Rose is six shots back at eleven under par in a tie for sixth place with Lee Westwood. The US Open Champ would need a stellar round on Sunday if he wants to win the European Tour finale’.
Graeme McDowell is currently in third place in the RTD standings, and hasn’t been able to keep pace with the leaders. The Norther Irishman is at eight under par and realistically out of the tournament, and the Championship.
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