McIlroy in pole position as Bourdy wins in Hong Kong
Monday 16 November, 2009
Rory McIlroy has moved to the head of the Race to Dubai Standings with only one event remaining but his final-round rally at the UBS Hong Kong Open was insufficient to reel in overnight leader Gregory Bourdy.
The Frenchman, who plays his rounds with Titleist golf balls, claimed his third European Tour trophy in as many years by firing a three-under-par 67 on his closing 18 holes to beat McIlroy by two strokes.
Bourdy's triumph also secured him a spot in the 60-man Dubai World Championships, as he jumped from 86th to 47th in the standings.
He said: "I wanted to stay focused on my game, play shot by shot and I knew if I was three or four under it would be OK to win the tournament.
"I knew if I won I would go to Dubai but first was to play well today and win this UBS Hong Kong Open. I have played well, won and I'm going to Dubai, so I have everything."
However, McIlroy's closing round of 64 was equally as important in the context of the Race to Dubai standings.
The Northern Irishman has moved €128,173 ahead of Lee Westwood in the rankings and now has his fate in his own hands heading to Dubai.
He explained: "I am a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of the Race to Dubai. It is where I wanted to be going into the final tournament."
Meanwhile, the Titleist Pro V1x golf ball user's result has also meant that only four players are now able to top the standings.
Westwood remains second despite struggling to a share of 54th in Hong Kong after a poor week with his golf putter, while Martin Kaymer lies third after taking the week off.
All three players are guaranteed to be crowned the Race to Dubai king should they win the Dubai World Championship.
Furthermore, Ross Fisher can also finish as the champion, but he must win in Dubai and hope for other outcomes to go in his favour.
Darren Clarke was possibly the most frustrated player in Fanling, as despite sharing 11th spot at the Hong Kong Golf Club, he was left 61st in the Race to Dubai standings and misses out on taking his golf bag to the season-ending event.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods picked up his first ever victory in Australia after claiming a two-stroke triumph in the JBWere Masters.
The Nike SQ Dymo golf driver user carded a final round of 68 to defeat fellow joint-overnight leader Greg Chalmers.
Woods was happy that he regained his composure after a disappointing third-round 72 to win the tournament on his first trip to Australia since 1998.
He commented: "Yesterday was one of those days. I said yesterday I was thankful I was still in the tournament, but I kept myself in it and it allowed me to go out today and go for the chance to win.
"It was going to be tough today. I had to make some birdies early and I was able to do that and was able to keep it."
Rory McIlroy has moved to the head of the Race to Dubai Standings with only one event remaining but his final-round rally at the UBS Hong Kong Open was insufficient to reel in overnight leader Gregory Bourdy.
