Friday 17 November 2017 11:27, UK
Justin Rose put himself in prime position to snatch the Race to Dubai title ahead of Tommy Fleetwood after a superb opening round at the DP World Tour Championship.
Rose, needing a top-four finish in the season finale in Dubai to have any hope of being crowned European No 1 for the first time in 10 years, carded a six-under 66 to lie one behind early pacesetter Patrick Reed.
But Fleetwood's first-round struggles continued as he returned an erratic one-over 73 which left him languishing in a share of 46th place in the elite 60-player field at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Reed defied a back problem to make a bogey-free start, opening with birdies at the first two holes and, after picking up further shots at 10 and 12, the American Ryder Cup star birdied three of the last four to claim the clubhouse lead on seven under ahead of Scott Hend, who found water at the last and ran up a six to take the gloss off his 66.
But with most of the attention on the final pairing, it was the in-form Rose who emerged as favourite to win the Race to Dubai as he got the better of Fleetwood by seven strokes, lifting him to the top of the order of merit in the projected standings.
Rose started the week trailing his fellow Englishman by 256,738 points, but he applied the pressure with an early birdie at the second after Fleetwood had scrapped his way to a morale-sapping double-bogey at the opening hole.
Fleetwood dropped another shot at the third, although he repaired the damage with a birdie at the fifth followed by a stunning second to six feet at the long seventh which he converted for a welcome eagle after Rose two-putted for birdie.
Rose then erred with a three-putt bogey at the ninth, but there was a two-shot swing at the next when Rose birdied and Fleetwood failed to save par, although he responded with a remarkable approach from behind a bush at the 11th which resulted in a birdie-three.
Rose holed a great putt for birdie from 20 feet to maintain his advantage, which he extended when Fleetwood blotted his card again at the 12th, and Rose turned the screw further when a perfect bunker escape found the bottom of the cup for eagle at the 14th.
To his credit, Fleetwood rolled in a confident putt for birdie to get back to level par for the day, but his erratic game misfired again at the 17th as Rose put together a steady run of pars.
Fleetwood shaved the hole with a good birdie chance at the last, but Rose made no mistake for his fifth birdie of the round which lifted him into a share of second place with Australian veteran Hend.
Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick again demonstrated his liking for the course as he birdied the final two holes to cap a flawless 67, matching the early score of British Masters winner Paul Dunne.
Andy Sullivan, who was denied victory by Rory McIlroy in a thrilling finish to the 2015 event, opened with a solid 68 to join David Horsey, Martin Kaymer and Nicolas Colsaerts on four under.
Sergio Garcia, the only other player apart from Fleetwood and Rose who can win the Race to Dubai, made a poor start as he bogeyed the first two holes before the Masters champion recovered with four birdies, including three in five holes after the turn, to keep his hopes alive with a 70.
