By Kent Gray
In potentially life altering moments like these, the main protagonist invariably trots out cliches such as playing “one shot at a time” and promises to confront the pressure by sticking to “my game” and “my processes”. Tommy Fleetwood knows he’s kidding no one.

If the 29-year-old can hold off Justin Rose, and to a lesser extent Sergio Garcia, to win the season-long Race to Dubai title on Earth, it would mean the world.

“There’s no denying it or getting away from it. There’s no saying, I just want to play my own game and not think about it. I think that’s just pretty much impossible,” Fleetwood said on the eve of the decisive DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“It’s very special to get to The Race to Dubai, you know, the final event, and be playing to win The Race to Dubai. Something I’ve never been done before. I’ve never been close, and it’s something that I didn’t expect to be doing this year.

“Yeah, it brilliant and there’s a list of very, very great players that have won The Race to Dubai. If it’s my turn, then that’s amazing. That’s brilliant. I’d love to add my name to that list. It will be a perfect way to end a year that’s been amazing for me. Yeah, it would mean a lot.”

Rose’s name – back in 2007 – is on that list course and while Fleetwood is in awe of what the former US Open and reigning Olympic champion has achieved the game, he doesn’t seem intimidated in any way by his countryman.

Sure, Rose has finished the season strong with back to back WGC and Rolex Series wins in China and Turkey respectively. But it’s not like Fleetwood’s campaign hasn’t been an less impressive – highlighted by wins in Abu Dhabi and France – and he knows he has destiny in his own hands.

Fleetwood wins the overall title providing he equals or betters Rose’s result; if Rose finishes outside the top five and Garcia fails to win, Fleetwood will be crowned European No. 1 for the first time regardless.

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“I think Justin, for me, has done a lot of things in his career that I would like to do. I mean, fair play for his golf recently. To win back-to-back, and those events, as well, is brilliant.

“But it’s not like intimidating or it’s not even — it’s not stressful in any way. It’s like, I mean, it’s obviously — not sure nervous is the right word – but it’s like the good kind of nerves where you’re trying to win The Race to Dubai. It’s not by no means a burden or stressful.

“It’s actually an amazing opportunity and it’s a massive privilege to be able to actually be playing. You know, I’m turning up tomorrow, final event of the year and I’m playing with Justin Rose trying to win a Race to Dubai. Sergio could win it, as well. Sergio, Justin Rose and then me; that’s pretty cool, that.”

Pretty cool indeed.

So, you say you’re not intimidated, but is there a balance between playing the golf course and the tournament and keeping your eye on Rose, a reporter asked?

Cue Fleetwood’s dry sense of humour.

“There’s absolutely no way to avoid it [they are aired in the final group of Thursday’s first round at 12.40pm]. I mean, I’m not going to lie; I would prefer him not to do well (laughter) but it’s just another test of, you know, just another experience. Whatever happens, I’ll have massively learnt from this.

“I would be such a liar if I said I’m not even going to watch him one shot, I’m going to concentrate on what I’m doing, because you just can’t do it. But there’s no avoiding it.

“It’s just another test, another experience, and it’s something that’s going to make me a better golfer at the end of it whether I do well or not. Yeah, I’m not wishing bad on him but, you know, have a decent week, but not an amazing week.”

So if you were a betting man, would you put your money on Tommy and his lead, or Justin Rose and his experience?

“Which are the higher odds? I’ll probably go on them, Fleetwood said to more press corps laughter before getting serious.

“I would put my money on me. Every day, yeah.”

Let the fun begin.