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Turkish Airlines Open Preview

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 31 Oct 2016


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


RORY McILROY has withdrawn from the Turkish Airlines Open at Antalya, the first of the Final Series that will determine who wins the Race to Dubai. He is not playing in South Africa either, which means the only way he can now finish top of the pile is by winning the Dubai World Championship while hoping that Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett struggle in his absence.

McIlroy was not at his best at the WGC Champions in Shanghai, but he produced enough good stuff to indicate that his break since the Ryder Cup has not done him any harm. Nevertheless, his withdrawal is a huge blow for the tournament.

McIlroy, who refused to play at the Olympic Games because of the zika virus, withdrew from this event, citing security concerns after rockets were fired at Antalya by terrorists in the middle of October.

"I guess it's out of my hands. That's the thing," said McIlroy. "If I have somewhat of a chance going into Dubai, that's great. Those boys can battle it out. I think over the course of the season, they have had big wins and played well. They [Stenson and Willett] are two major champions, so I'm OK with that.”

Willett had led the Race to Dubai since winning The Masters in April, but has struggled ever since and was finally overtaken by Stenson in Shanghai. But Stenson is also sitting this one out. If Willett is to have any chance of regaining top spot then he is going to have to play an awful lot better than he did in China, where he finished 74th.

Alex Noren has had a season he will remember for the rest of his life and will head to Turkey knowing that another victory will give him a chance of taking top spot. He is fourth after an incredible run that has seen him collect four titles in 2016 and seen him climb into the top 20 in the world rankings for the first time in his career. The Swede has lived in Stenson's shadow for years, not helped by some injury problems, but he is at last proving that he has the game to challenge his countryman. He seems to have been around for an awful long time but is still only 34 years old and his best years could still be ahead of him, especially if he can remain fit.

It is also impossible to rule out Tyrrell Hatton. The Englishman got the monkey off his back when he won the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews at a canter. After coming close so often in the past, Hatton was beginning to wonder if he would ever win. He has always had a tendency to get down on himself when things don't go his way, but surely that will stop now that he knows he can compete and beat the best in Europe.

And the same applies to Tommy Fleetwood, who has had a pretty wretched season by his own high standards. There were suggestions in some quarters that he had stopped putting in the work required to compete at this level, but that is unlikely to be the case. Sometimes, golf just becomes very hard work, especially when you cannot find your A-game. Fleetwood seems to have come out the other side, and that can only be good news for European golf.

 

For the record, this is how the Top Five in the Race to Dubai looks:


1 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 3,843,283.58 points

2. Danny Willett (Eng) 3,581,896.64

3. Rory McIlroy (NI) 2,824,148.55

4. Alex Noren (Swe) 2,318,603.58

5. Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) 2,242,985.02


To Win:

Tyrrell Hatton. On the crest of a wave

Each Way:

Alex Noren. Looking for fourth win of 2016

Fantasy Picks:

Tyrrell Hatton. Full of confidence

Alex Noren. Looking to crown a fabulous year

Tommy Fleetwood. Coming out the other side at last

Andrew Johnston. Cult hero

Victor Dubuisson. This is where it all began for Le Sulk

Lee Westwood. In good form

Alexander Levy. Terrific French golfer

Nicolas Colsaerts. Showing signs of his best again

Bernd Wiesberger. Looking for a good week

 


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Tags: european tour



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