Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Aletihad)
Matthew Wallace recorded the lowest score of the DP World Tour Championship and also staked claim to sharing the most successive string of birdies, nine, on his way to taking the lead at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship (DPWTC) in Dubai in the penultimate round.
His round of 60 on the par-72 Earth Course saw him waltz from the back of the book in the 50-player elite field and finish one clear of Tommy Fleetwood at 16-under for the tournament.
Sporting a blue jersey, the Englishman came out a changed man after the mid-way break from the clubhouse at the Jumeirah Golf Estates when he racked in a string of red scores relentlessly until the end of his round on Day 3 of the DPWTC.
His 27 on the back nine would have been a joint world record with Jamies Nitties of Australia, who achieved it in 2019 at the Handa Vic Open, but the world No. 87’s feat will not count as preferred lies were in play after Friday’s thunderstorms. Only once has a player made nine birdies in a row on the DP World Tour – Bernd Wiesberger in the 2017 Maybank Championship.
Two Ryder Cup stars – England’s Dubai-based Tommy Fleetwood and Norway’s Viktor Hovland – both shot rounds of 66, but could not make a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to remain one shy of Wallace at 15-under. Denmark’s Jeff Winther, assisted by two eagles on the back nine, moved into solo fourth place at 14-under after a round of 64.
Defending champion and world No. 3 Jon Rahm moved to tied ninth place with a bogey-free 67, while world No. 2 Rory McIlroy finally came into his own with a 65 that elevated him to tied 19th place.
How it stands with 18 holes to play 📊 #DPWTC | #RolexSeries
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 18, 2023
One of the last players to secure his place in the DP World Tour Championship field at No. 48 on the Race to Dubai, Wallace said he was unaware that he had a chance to shoot a 59. He missed his second shot on the par-5 18th to the right bunker and made his up-and-down for a birdie when an eagle would have cracked the 60 barrier.
“Kind of gutted now, actually. It was a great opportunity to do it. I’ve done it at Moorpark on the West Course, which is only a par 68, but to do it out there would have been really special today,” said Wallace, who made four-under in the second round after a level-par opening.
“Not to make any bogeys in the last two rounds is nice. I’m playing solid. I felt like my game was right there. And this obviously proved that. I played in the Czech Republic (in August) and I was just kind of playing to keep my card on DP World Tour as I played mostly on the PGA Tour this year. So, once I came second there, it kind of boosted me and then I wanted to make it to the DP World and now I’m here and we’ve got a chance to win tomorrow, which is fabulous.
“There really wasn’t anything in my head. The only thought was, as I reached the 16th hole, was that I wanted to keep the ball in play. When I reached the ball, I had a perfect number and just as I would do in any situation, I was taking in the surroundings and going through the process each time.”
Asked if he will sleep well given the $3 million winner’s cheque within his grasp tomorrow, Wallace said: “I will. If there was a competition for sleeping, I’d be on the podium each time. Money doesn’t drive me. It inspires me a little bit, but the bigger the tournament, I want to compete in them against the best players. I am happy we’re doing that this week.”
Both Fleetwood and Hovland tried hard to overtake Wallace but met with frustration approaching the 18th. A three-putt bogey on the 17th and a missed putt from five feet left Fleetwood one short as he sees his first win of the year.
“It would be great. I’m very happy with the fact that you get to the final day of the year and I’m still playing well, still feel fresh and I’m still motivated, and in contention.”
While the Race to Dubai has already been decided in McIlroy’s favour, the top-eight players getting a share of the $6 million bonus pool will be determined on Sunday, as also the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer for the top-10 non-exempt DP World Tour members.
