DP World Tour Championship 2014: Daily Leaderboard Analysis, Highlights and More
Henrik Stenson successfully defended his DP World Tour Championship title on Sunday, overcoming late pressure from Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose to top the billing in Dubai.
The Swede nets a hefty chunk of the whopping $8 million prize fund on offer at the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, with the tour's overall Top 15 sharing $5 million at the conclusion of play.
Stenson becomes the first player ever to defend a DP World Tour Championship title, while McIlroy will be left to settle with his Race to Dubai crown, having come into this weekend's competition with an unassailable points lead.
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Read on for a look at the final leaderboard, confirming Stenson's triumph, along with daily reports of how the year's final event played out.
| Position | Player | To Par |
| 1 | Henrik Stenson | -16 |
| T2 | Rory McIlroy | -14 |
| T2 | Victor Dubuisson | -14 |
| T2 | Justin Rose | -14 |
| 5 | Shane Lowry | -13 |
| T6 | Louis Oosthuizen | -12 |
| T6 | Robert Karlsson | -12 |
| T6 | Tyrell Hatton | -12 |
| T9 | Branden Grace | -11 |
| T9 | Joost Luiten | -11 |
For a full view of the leaderboard, visit the official European Tour website.
Day 4 Recap
Having carded sub-70 scores during the opening three days of the contest, Sunday proved to be the most difficult of Stenson's weekend, but was sufficient enough to secure his 2014 DP World Tour Championship title.
The victor finished with a score of 70, registering his first double-bogey of the weekend as part of a troublesome back nine.
However, three birdies and a bogey along Sunday's opening nine meant the Swede had room to make such an error.
A wonderful tee shot at the 17th led to a splendid birdie, per Golfing World. And Stenson ensured he finished with back-to-back birdies on 18, beating McIlroy, Rose and Victor Dubuisson by two strokes:
Speaking to the official European Tour website following Sunday's result, Stenson said:
"It was a horrible shot [at 11], one of the worst shots I’ve hit for a long, long time. After that I had to dig deep, but I was still there or thereabouts and I’m delighted with the day and the week and my defence. It was looking like a winless season for me but still a good one, but this is the icing on the cake.
"
After registering scores of 64 and 65 on Days 2 and 3, respectively, Rafael Cabrera-Bello came into Sunday's action as a top contender to challenge for first place in Dubai.
As Golf Central illustrated, the Spaniard shared a lead with Stenson after Saturday's action, but a collapse of 75 on Sunday meant his fall from grace was complete. The DP World Tour Championship Twitter account shows luck simply wasn't on his side:
McIlroy will rue the scores of 70 on Friday and Saturday which, while far from tragic, allowed Stenson to grasp the initiative. However, he almost pulled an unlikely victory out the bag following a literal stroke of luck on the last hole of the season.
McIlroy gave his all in landing on the 18th fairway, fortunately missing the water by hitting a rock. It eventually wasn't enough to claim the title, per the official European Tour's Youtube account:
Stenson ultimately proved to be the most consistent performer, and he is rapidly making this course his own. Having already broken one record with this year's win, questions will be asked in 12 months' time as to whether he can make it a historic three-peat.
For now, Stenson can afford to celebrate after successfully defending a title for the first time in his career, and after edging closer to claiming majors in his last two years, can look forward to further improvements in 2015.
Day 3 Recap
Henrik Stenson maintained his lead at the top of the DP World Tour Championship leaderboard on Saturday, although he suddenly finds himself with company.
The Swede carded an impressive four-under-par 68 to move to 14 under for the tournament, but Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello went three better with a 65 to give him a share of the lead.
The pair are now three shots clear of the field heading into Sunday, but the star-studded chasing pack will undoubtedly have them looking over their shoulders. Here’s a look at the leaderboard following Day 3’s action:
| Position | Golfer | To Par | Saturday's Round |
| T1 | Rafa Cabrera-Bello | -14 | 65 |
| T1 | Henrik Stenson | -14 | 68 |
| 3 | Justin Rose | -11 | 68 |
| T4 | Victor Dubuisson | -10 | 67 |
| T4 | Tyrrell Hatton | -10 | 68 |
| T4 | Thorbjorn Olesen | -10 | 69 |
| T4 | Rory McIlroy | -10 | 70 |
| T8 | Marc Warren | -9 | 65 |
| T8 | Joost Luiten | -9 | 68 |
| T8 | Robert Karlsson | -9 | 68 |
| T8 | Branden Grace | -9 | 68 |
| T8 | Danny Willett | -9 | 71 |
Stenson has been one of the most consistent performers on tour all season, and it’s only fitting that he’s using the final event to demonstrate just how concrete a top-10 player he’s become.
Saturday’s 68 was flawless from the Ryder Cup star, with birdies on holes 4, 8, 14 and 15 without a single bogey taking him to his total and in line for the big-money prize.
If the putter was a little hotter, then Stenson’s round have been even better, but it’s safe to say that he’s in strong position heading into the final day—and he knows it, too, per European Tour:
Conditions couldn’t have been better for the field, and the 38-year-old took full advantage with some outstanding tee-to-green play.
The par-five 14th was particularly breathtaking, as with 270 yards remaining, Stenson took aim with a 4-iron and produced arguably the shot of the tournament, as European Tour’s video shows:
That saw the Swede chalk up birdie three of four for his day, and he was understandably pleased with his round when he spoke to European Tour at the close of play:
"I was striking the ball better than yesterday but was not quite as hot on the greens and left a couple of shots out there. All in all it was a good day and we're still at the races so I am pretty pleased.”
However, for all of Stenson’s brilliance, the day belonged to Cabrera-Bello, whose 65 followed from a 64 on Friday, as European Tour revealed:
This time, though, it was an immaculate round, with the Spaniard posting seven birdies without a single blemish on the card.
Cabrera-Bello was absolutely phenomenal with the putter, so much so that every miss with the flat stick was a shock.
The man himself said as much after his impressive round, saying that his short game was as good as he’s ever known it to be:
"Obviously it's been a very special round for me today. I'm really, really pleased with the score, and obviously with the good finish. The short game and putting has been unbelievable, probably the best day of my life for short game. I think that that's what helped me hang in there on the front nine and I did play better on the back nine. I was playing more aggressive going for it, hitting good shots, and giving myself a lot of chances and I did make some of them.
"
Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy posted a topsy-turvy round of 70 which included consecutive double bogeys to put him four shots back of the lead on 10 under, and Justin Rose took sole possession of third place with a 68 to move up to 11 under.
However, Stenson and Cabrera-Bello are the men to catch, and based on the week so far, they could well be out of sight by Sunday’s back nine.
The Spaniard in particular is looking better and better with every round, it’s all just a case of whether he can handle the pressure of squaring up with a pro of Stenson’s stature.
Day 2 Recap
Henrik Stenson sunk a second round six-under 66 to move to 10-under in Dubai, eclipsing Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry's opening day lead with an excellent showing in the final competition of the year, per the European Tour's official Twitter account:
Here's a look at the leaderboard (you can check the full rankings here):
| 1 | Henrik Stenson | -10 | 66 |
| T2 | Danny Willett | -8 | 67 |
| T2 | Richie Ramsay | -8 | 69 |
| T2 | Rory McIlroy | -8 | 70 |
| T5 | Rafa Cabrera-Bello | -7 | 64 |
| T5 | Justin Rose | -7 | 66 |
| T5 | Kristoffer Broberg | -7 | 67 |
| T5 | Thorbjorn Olesen | -7 | 70 |
| T5 | Shane Lowry | -7 | 71 |
Stenson posted seven birdies for the second consecutive day and improved on Thursday's 68 by sharpening up in pressure situations. He conceded a shot at the fourth, but enjoyed a solid run to the summit ahead of the weekend's play.
Defending champion Stenson admitted prior to his arrival that he would love to round the year off by retaining his crown: "I haven't defended a title as of yet, so I couldn't think of a much better place to do it than here this week," said the Swede, per Sky Sports.
Unlike the overall leader, McIlroy failed to gain momentum after his assured opening round on Thursday. While it looked as if the Northern Irishman would build upon his opening 66, he showed signs of waning form prior to struggling down the back nine, highlighted by the European Tour:
McIlroy overcame the mishap to reach par on the seventh, but bogeys on the 12th and 16th leave him two shots off the lead. A late birdie on the 17th helped the world No. 1 push himself back up the rankings and puts him in a decent position to progress. Rory was at least able to smile toward the end of an underwhelming day:
He is currently tied with Danny Willett and Richie Ramsay on eight-under. Willett had an excellent front nine—which saw him stroke home five birdies—to thank for his five-under round. Ramsay posted his first trio of bogeys of the competition, but relied on an eagle on the 10th to remain with the chasing pack, noted by the European Tour:
Similar to McIlroy, Lowry was unable to capitalise on his first-round lead. His consistency was key on Thursday, but there's always been a sense he would need to land a string of speculator shots to compete right until the last.
While three bogeys along the first quartet of holes quashed his progress, the Irishman showed he has the ability and guts to maintain pace. As highlighted by the European Tour, his terrific hole-in-one can be considered the shot of the tournament so far:
More of this is needed for Lowry. He secured just two birdies compared to seven on Thursday and struggled to assert himself among an improving field. Thorbjorn Olesen suffered the same fate and followed his initial 67 by gaining just two shots on the second day.
The pair are joined by Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Justin Rose and Kristoff Broberg on an overall score of seven-under. It was Cabrera-Bello who stole the individual limelight of the day, posting eight-under for the round, the event's best tally so far.
Stenson is undoubtedly in an excellent position to dominate the weekend. He has two shots to fall back on, a lead McIlroy will be disappointed to have given up so easily.
Both are capable of extraordinary things and will be hoping to end their season with a memorable success. Right now, Stenson's consistency and improving form looks set to quash the fluctuating quality of McIlroy, who may feel the effects of his six-week break as the intensity ramps up.
Day 1 Recap
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry shared the lead after the opening round. Both competitors posted a six-under 66 to set themselves apart from the pack, with Richie Ramsay and Thorbjorn Olesen also impressing in the Dubai heat.
Here's a look at the official standings:
| T1 | Shane Lowry | -6 | 66 |
| T1 | Rory McIlroy | -6 | 66 |
| T3 | Richie Ramsay | -5 | 67 |
| T3 | Thorbjorn Olesen | -5 | 67 |
| T5 | Emiliano Grillo | -4 | 68 |
| T5 | Henrik Stenson | -4 | 68 |
| T7 | Edoardo Molinari | -3 | 69 |
| T7 | Danny Willett | -3 | 69 |
| T7 | Tommy Fleetwood | -3 | 69 |
| T7 | Louis Oosthuizen | -3 | 69 |
| T7 | Ross Fisher | -3 | 69 |
It was Lowry who set the top score, posting three birdies across his front nine before losing a shot on the 10th after the turn, per the European Tour's official stats. The Irishman made up for this by posting birdies in four of the final six holes, setting an equal score of 33 each way.
McIlroy was more predictable and posted a settled showing during his first appearance in six weeks. The Race to Dubai winner began by going four-under through the opening five holes, confidently getting back up to speed with powerful strokes, highlighted by the European Tour's Twitter account:
The Northern Irishman bided his time and played with precision, without trying to blitz Lowry's lead. He made his move by firing birdies on the 15th and 16th before parring the final two to take a share of the opening day spoils.
Below the frontrunners, Ramsay and Olesen secured wildly different routes to a five-under 67. The former slotted home three consecutive birdies across the opening trio of holes, gaining further shots on the 14th—the longest par five at 626 yards—and the 15th.
Olesen promised so much better after confidently wrapping up seven birdies. Unfortunately, a disappointing double bogey on the 16th saw the Dane drop below the joint leaders.
Defending champion Henrik Stenson is one further back on four-under, but did produce one of the day's most memorable shots on the 14th:
Stenson, who partnered McIlroy around the course, offered his thoughts on the joint-leader, per Golfing World:
Emiliano Grillo, perhaps the surprise package alongside Stenson on 68, can be extremely proud of his eagle on the par-five seventh. The Argentinian youngster will need to continue asserting such confidence if he is to remain with the elite by the conclusion of the weekend.
Lee Westwood sits at two-under after also posting an eagle, while Justin Rose overcame a double bogey on the third to enter the clubhouse one-under par. His ability to overcome a slight choke was certainly more impressive than that of Ken Brown, who struggled with his snacks on live television:
McIlroy undoubtedly enters the rest of the tournament as the most likely victor. His ability to immediately find his range sets him up excellently for the remainder of what is shaping up to be a terrific competition.
Lowry's consistency is key to his success at this point, but the 27-year-old will likely need to land a handful of terrific shots to be in contention at the conclusion of the Dubai meet.
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