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By Kent Gray
Matthew Fitzpatrick slipped into the DP World Tour Championship under the radar, no easy feat as defending champion. With half of the European Tour’s season-decider done, the Englishman once again owns the brightest red blip on the leaderboard but still feels like he’s playing in stealth mode.

Successive 67s, Friday’s sealed with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th, sees the 23-year-old atop the leaderboard at -10, a shot clear of compatriot Tyrrell Hatton. But with no chance in the season-long Race to Dubai money list race, Fitzpatrick can get on with his title defence “with nothing to lose” while others around him fret over every costly shot in the final sprint to be crowned European No.1.

Earth’s creek-split closing hole certainly took a toll on the names closest to Fitzpatrick with Hatton the first to stumble on the reachable par 5. Flirting with Justin Rose’s 2012 course record mark of 62, the Englishman’s chance were fried by a plugged lie on the closing hole as he signed for a 63.

Rose, who had started the day as the projected No.1, also bogeyed after pushing his three wood approach and par putt to finish to sign for a frustrating 70. It handed the initiative back to Tommy Fleetwood who roared up the leaderboard with a 65 to share 11th place four shots off Fitzpatrick’s lead and crucially just two strokes behind Rose. If it stayed like this like all the way to Sunday, Fleetwood would win the money title by the measly equivalent of €15,276. 

Overnight leader Patrick Reed was next to fall foul of the closing hole, his approach sent for a swim before his par save from four feet lipped out. An even par 72 sees the American Ryder Cupper in a five way share of 6th at -7.

It all means the Race to Dubai is tight once again and Fitzpatrick can run his own race.

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m not trying to win The Race to Dubai unfortunately,” Fitzpatrick said afterwards. “I won here last year, so again, I’ve got nothing to lose. Obviously it would be nice to defend but you know sort of the odds when you’re coming into the tournament, there’s great players at the top of the leaderboard already.

“I think the only thing I would say is that I did win last year, and that probably gives me a little bit more confidence than everyone else. Maybe apart from Rosey because he’s won the last two starts.

“I’m just looking forward to the weekend and delighted that I could put myself in position.”

As well as riding a hot putter, Fitzpatrick also brings a rich run of form to Dubai. Included in his last seven starts is victory at the European Masters and six other top 15s.

“Yeah, it’s in good shape,” Fitzpatrick said of his game. “Like you say, I’ve had a nice, consistent run, which is the first time for a while for me, which I’m really pleased about. That’s a big thing, we had a meeting before Switzerland, was to become more consistent and challenge more regularly.

“Yeah, everything feels good. Maybe just do a little bit of work on the irons sort of this afternoon or evening, and just yeah, look toward to the weekend.”