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By Kent Gray
The Race to Dubai might be run but the sprint to the finish line at the 10th DP World Tour Championship is anything but done.

After a forgettable Saturday 74 for Tommy Fleetwood, Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari looks set to enjoy a lap of honour on Earth Sunday en-route to becoming European No.1.

But the focus will largely be elsewhere as Masters champion Patrick Reed looks to capture his first victory on foreign soil in a final group pairing where Danny Willett has an equally absorbing shot at putting all the pieces of his Humpty Dumpty career back together again.

Reed fired a five-under third round 67 and Willett a 68 to move to -14 but won’t have Sunday all to themselves with Englishman Jordan Smith (69) just a shot back and Lee Westwood in a group of three within two. If you believe in fairytales, how about Westwood making it back-to-back European Tour wins after his Nedbank Challenge triumph last week and winning the Race to Dubai decider for a second time, 10 years after capturing the maiden DP World Tour Championship in 2009?

Then again, major champions Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia and defending champions are only four adrift. Even at five back, Rory McIlroy will fancy his chances too. The race within the race might be done, but it doesn’t mean Sunday won’t still be a heck of a lot of fun.

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Danny Willett plays his third shot on the 18th hole at JGE on Saturday.

They said it…

Patrick Reed
“Just to be in the situation to be able to come over here and play, with the limited schedule that I play over here on The European Tour, and to have a chance to go out and finish the year off right and win a golf tournament, give myself a little early Christmas gift, a trophy, would be amazing.

“It feels the same as if I’m back home playing the big events at home. When you come over and you play events like this, especially this event, the last one of the year, the guys are in this event because they have played some incredible golf throughout the entire season.

“Because of that, any one of the guys can win a golf tournament. You treat it like that. You treat it as it’s one of the major events. You have to go out and you have to play some solid golf. If you shoot even par around this place, you get lapped so you have to stay aggressive and you have to go and play well, and it feels how it’s supposed to be. When you get to that first tee, you get some adrenaline going and coming down the end, you have adrenaline.”

Danny Willett
“It would be nice, but there’s a lot of golf left, 18 holes. A lot can happen in 18 holes. I’m just happy with the golf game. The golf game is in good shape. The body is feeling good, and like I’ve said, it’s been a long old year with all the stuff that’s gone on and for this to be the last event I’m going to play in this year with a field this good is a real bonus. Going to go out and try and play some good golf tomorrow.

“I don’t think tomorrow could be a bad day regardless, or it could compare to some of the bad days I’ve had. There’s not many negatives we can spin. You pitch up tomorrow, you don’t play well, you don’t play well. You go back out, see the kids, you come back out in January and play well and see what happens. Yeah, in a nice place.”

Jordan Smith
“I don’t think I’ll go in with any expectations. Just going to go enjoy it. Whatever happens, happens. Yeah, I’m just not going to put pressure on myself.”

Adrian Otaegui
“Yeah, it’s been a good week so far. I’m feeling confident. I’m playing well, so just want to keep going and see what happens tomorrow.”

Rory McIlroy
“I think my lowest has been 65. I don’t think I went any lower around here but I’ve shot a lot of them, a lot of 65s and 66s.

“If I were to shoot 65 tomorrow, get to 16-under, it might hold up, especially with the conditions the way they are going to be. I just need to get off to a good start. I need to play the par 5s better, and if I can do that and just not make some of the silly mistakes I made today, who knows.”

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Westwood plays his second shot on the 18th hole at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Saturday.

Lee Westwood
“Yeah, I’m clearly playing well. It’s just a case of regrouping and getting everything back into perspective and your goals, sights, back in line, and getting going again, playing again. It was no surprise that I was only 5-under after a couple of rounds, but it tends to happen when you’ve won the week before, and I didn’t make enough putts the first couple of days. Missed a low one. Should have been a lot better than it was, and today I made up for it.

“I just think experience is valuable, whatever you’re doing. Whenever you’ve been in a situation before, it’s got to help. I’m just pleased I shot 65 and got myself in there and closer to the leaders, with the conditions as they are and if the wind stays up, then they may not get too far away from front of me, but I was 5-under and the lead was 11, was it, so I was six behind and now I’m tied [he finished the day two back]. It’s a big improvement and gives me a chance tomorrow.”

Jon Rahm
“It’s just too bad I couldn’t make the birdie putts. I gave myself plenty of options. I just couldn’t make them to post a really good round but I’ll take a 69 and I’ll take the spot I’m in. Hopefully tomorrow I have a good ball-striking day and make a few putts early on, and give the guys on top a little bit of a scare.”