DP World Tour Championship 2018 - Round 3

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Patrick Reed and Danny Willett share a one shot lead heading into the final round.
Posted on
November 17, 2018
by
The Editorial Team in ,
Estimated reading time: 36 minutes

European Tour

DP World Tour Championship 2018

November 15-18

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

$8,000,000

Live Leaderboard

November 15-18

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

$8,000,000

Live Leaderboard

Round 3

Reed versus Willett in battle to be Master of Dubai

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

Round 1

Round 2

Round 4

November 17, 2018

Masters Champions Patrick Reed and Danny Willett share a one shot lead heading into the final round of the 2018 European Tour season as the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – the eighth and final Rolex Series event of the year – looks set for a dramatic finish.

- Getty Images

“It was steady," said Reed. "I didn't quite have the warm up that I wanted to kind of start the day and get going, but once I got on the golf course, things all seemed to settle out. Even though I was only even par through four, I felt like I really didn't miss a golf shot at that point. You know, it was a tough flag and awkward number for me on four there, which caused me to put it in the wrong spot and have a three-putt for bogey there. But after that, I just kept on playing well. Kept on hitting the golf ball how I was hitting it all day and just kept allowing the putter to do its work.

“ I feel good. I feel like the consistency of my game is where it needs to be. You're always going to have hot flashes here and there and you're always going to have kind of low points. I feel like my low points are getting better, and they are more manageable and I can miss the golf ball where I need to miss the golf ball.

“It would mean a lot to win this tournament. Just to be in the situation to be able to come over here and play, with the limited schedule that I play over here on The European Tour, and to have a chance to go out and finish the year off right and win a golf tournament, give myself a little early Christmas gift of a trophy, would be amazing.”

The 2018 Masters winner Reed made four birdies in six holes on the back nine to sign for a 67 and set the target at 14 under par at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The American was joined at the summit by Englishman Willett, who triumphed at Augusta National in 2016, as he made three birdies in a row from the 14 th in a round of 69.

“It would be nice to win tomorrow but there's a lot of golf left, 18 holes," said Willett. "A lot can happen in 18 holes. I'm just happy with the golf game. The golf game is in good shape. The body is feeling good, and like I've said, it's been a long old year with all the stuff that's gone on and for this to be the last event I'm going to play in this year with a field this good is a real bonus. Going to go out and try and play some good golf tomorrow."

“ I think even if we weren't in contention, just the way that we've worked and practiced these last three, four months and what I've taken from the range to the golf course and now it's just each week, it's felt a little bit better."

“The result might not have come but everything's been feeling good, and I appreciate this game at times is a little bit tricky when you're not getting results and you feel like things are good and you feel like you're knocking your head against the wall. It's nice to be in this position and nice to be in this position feeling comfortable is more important. It's fun again.”

England's Jordan Smith also produced a big finish, birdieing three of the last five holes to move into third place at 13 under par. He is one shot clear of fellow Englishmen Matt Wallace and Lee Westwood – who charged up the leaderboard with a bogey-free round of 65 – and South African Dean Burmester.

“I played great," said Westwood. "I got off to a quick start, which I wanted to. I was four under through five. And I gave myself a lot of chances. Could have been out in 7-under quite easily. Just kept plugging away. I'm hitting the ball well and getting it close a lot, so the key is really patience and not getting frustrated when I was hitting good putts and they weren't going in."

“I just think experience is valuable, whatever you're doing. Whenever you've been in a situation before, it's got to help. I'm just pleased I shot 65 and got myself in there and closer to the leaders, with the conditions as they are and if the wind stays up, then they may not get too far away from front of me, but I was five under and the lead was 11, so I was six behind and now I'm going to be a couple back. It's a big improvement and gives me a chance tomorrow.”

Englishman Tom Lewis and Adrian Otaegui of Spain are at 11 under par, with two further Major winners in Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson one shot further back alongside defending champion Jon Rahm and India's Shubhankar Sharma.

Francesco Molinari remains on course to be crowned European Number One despite sitting nine shots off the lead going into the final round, with his closest rival Tommy Fleetwood one shot better off at six under par but in need of a victory to claim back to back Race to Dubai titles.

“I feel the adrenaline might have gone now. I think you kind of know when your time's up," said Fleetwood. "I lasted within two days of the season. Like I've said, it was a stretch trying to win it. But it is what it is. I'll play tomorrow and we'll see how we do, but it's fine. I'm fine. Fit and healthy. I'll play golf tomorrow and that's it. I'll go home and I'll spend time with my son tonight. At the end of the day, it's just golf, but it does hurt when you have days like that.”

Pos.
Player
Nat
To Par
R1
R2
R3
Total
T1
Danny Willett
ENG
-14
67
67
68
202
T1
Patrick Reed
USA
-14
69
66
67
202
3
Jordan Smith
ENG
-13
66
68
69
203
T4
Dean Burmester
RSA
-12
71
65
68
204
T4
Lee Westwood
ENG
-12
70
69
65
204
T4
Matt Wallace
ENG
-12
68
65
71
204
T7
Adrian Otaegui
ESP
-11
66
68
71
205
T7
Tom Lewis
ENG
-11
69
69
67
205
T9
Henrik Stenson
SWE
-10
71
66
69
206
T9
Jon Rahm
ESP
-10
67
70
69
206
T9
Sergio Garcia
ESP
-10
71
68
67
206
T9
Shubhankar Sharma
IND
-10
73
67
66
206
T13
Alexander Bjoerk
SWE
-9
72
65
70
207
T13
Alexander Noren
SWE
-9
69
71
67
207
T13
Kiradech Aphibarnrat
THA
-9
70
66
71
207
T13
Rory McIlroy
NIR
-9
69
67
71
207
T17
Andrea Pavan
ITA
-8
69
69
70
208
T17
Andy Sullivan
ENG
-8
72
67
69
208
T17
Tyrrell Hatton
ENG
-8
71
72
65
208
T20
Dylan Frittelli
RSA
-7
70
73
66
209
T20
Rafael Cabrera Bello
ESP
-7
69
69
71
209
T20
Thomas Detry
BEL
-7
70
70
69
209
T20
Wade Ormsby
AUS
-7
69
72
68
209
T24
Haotong Li
CHN
-6
68
73
69
210
T24
Marcus Kinhult
SWE
-6
69
71
70
210
T24
Thomas Pieters
BEL
-6
68
70
72
210
T24
Tommy Fleetwood
ENG
-6
69
67
74
210
T28
Chris Paisley
ENG
-5
71
71
69
211
T28
Erik Van Rooyen
RSA
-5
71
71
69
211
T28
Francesco Molinari
ITA
-5
68
73
70
211
T28
Shane Lowry
IRL
-5
70
72
69
211
T32
Hideto Tanihara
JPN
-4
69
71
72
212
T32
Joost Luiten
NED
-4
69
73
70
212
T32
Matthew Southgate
ENG
-4
71
69
72
212
T32
Mikko Korhonen
FIN
-4
69
74
69
212
T32
Sam Horsfield
ENG
-4
73
67
72
212
T32
Xander Schauffele
USA
-4
71
71
70
212
T38
Ashun Wu
CHI
-3
72
74
67
213
T38
Lucas Bjerregaard
DNK
-3
76
71
66
213
T38
Ross Fisher
ENG
-3
68
73
72
213
41
Russell Knox
SCO
-2
73
68
73
214
T42
Branden Grace
RSA
-1
71
75
69
215
T42
Lee Slattery
ENG
-1
72
70
73
215
T44
Alexander Levy
FRA
Par
72
72
72
216
T44
Matthew Fitzpatrick
ENG
Par
74
72
70
216
T44
Michael Lorenzo-Vera
FRA
Par
70
72
74
216
T44
Paul Dunne
IRL
Par
72
69
75
216
T44
Ryan Fox
NZL
Par
74
74
68
216
T44
Thorbjorn Olesen
DEN
Par
71
73
72
216
50
Aaron Rai
ENG
1
73
75
69
217
T51
Darren Fichardt
RSA
2
74
71
73
218
T51
Lucas Herbert
AUS
2
74
70
74
218
53
Robert Rock
ENG
3
71
73
75
219
54
Joakim Lagergren
SWE
4
76
79
65
220
55
Martin Kaymer
GER
5
72
75
74
221
T56
Brandon Stone
RSA
6
74
76
72
222
T56
Chris Wood
ENG
6
73
76
73
222
T56
Ian Poulter
ENG
6
72
74
76
222
T56
Jorge Campillo
ESP
6
74
74
74
222
RET
Eddie Pepperell
ENG
Par
75
-
-
75
Pos.
Player
Nat
To Par
R3
Total
T1
Danny Willett
ENG
-14
68
202
T1
Patrick Reed
USA
-14
67
202
3
Jordan Smith
ENG
-13
69
203
T4
Dean Burmester
RSA
-12
68
204
T4
Lee Westwood
ENG
-12
65
204
T4
Matt Wallace
ENG
-12
71
204
T7
Adrian Otaegui
ESP
-11
71
205
T7
Tom Lewis
ENG
-11
67
205
T9
Henrik Stenson
SWE
-10
69
206
T9
Jon Rahm
ESP
-10
69
206
T9
Sergio Garcia
ESP
-10
67
206
T9
Shubhankar Sharma
IND
-10
66
206
T13
Alexander Bjoerk
SWE
-9
70
207
T13
Alexander Noren
SWE
-9
67
207
T13
Kiradech Aphibarnrat
THA
-9
71
207
T13
Rory McIlroy
NIR
-9
71
207
T17
Andrea Pavan
ITA
-8
70
208
T17
Andy Sullivan
ENG
-8
69
208
T17
Tyrrell Hatton
ENG
-8
65
208
T20
Dylan Frittelli
RSA
-7
66
209
T20
Rafael Cabrera Bello
ESP
-7
71
209
T20
Thomas Detry
BEL
-7
69
209
T20
Wade Ormsby
AUS
-7
68
209
T24
Haotong Li
CHN
-6
69
210
T24
Marcus Kinhult
SWE
-6
70
210
T24
Thomas Pieters
BEL
-6
72
210
T24
Tommy Fleetwood
ENG
-6
74
210
T28
Chris Paisley
ENG
-5
69
211
T28
Erik Van Rooyen
RSA
-5
69
211
T28
Francesco Molinari
ITA
-5
70
211
T28
Shane Lowry
IRL
-5
69
211
T32
Hideto Tanihara
JPN
-4
72
212
T32
Joost Luiten
NED
-4
70
212
T32
Matthew Southgate
ENG
-4
72
212
T32
Mikko Korhonen
FIN
-4
69
212
T32
Sam Horsfield
ENG
-4
72
212
T32
Xander Schauffele
USA
-4
70
212
T38
Ashun Wu
CHI
-3
67
213
T38
Lucas Bjerregaard
DNK
-3
66
213
T38
Ross Fisher
ENG
-3
72
213
41
Russell Knox
SCO
-2
73
214
T42
Branden Grace
RSA
-1
69
215
T42
Lee Slattery
ENG
-1
73
215
T44
Alexander Levy
FRA
Par
72
216
T44
Matthew Fitzpatrick
ENG
Par
70
216
T44
Michael Lorenzo-Vera
FRA
Par
74
216
T44
Paul Dunne
IRL
Par
75
216
T44
Ryan Fox
NZL
Par
68
216
T44
Thorbjorn Olesen
DEN
Par
72
216
50
Aaron Rai
ENG
1
69
217
T51
Darren Fichardt
RSA
2
73
218
T51
Lucas Herbert
AUS
2
74
218
53
Robert Rock
ENG
3
75
219
54
Joakim Lagergren
SWE
4
65
220
55
Martin Kaymer
GER
5
74
221
T56
Brandon Stone
RSA
6
72
222
T56
Chris Wood
ENG
6
73
222
T56
Ian Poulter
ENG
6
76
222
T56
Jorge Campillo
ESP
6
74
222
RET
Eddie Pepperell
ENG
Par
-
75

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