Henrik Stenson remains on course to complete an historic double, after posting a third round of 67 to lead the DP World Tour Championship by one shot at 17-under. Last week’s winner Victor Dubuisson shot through the field into second, but it is Ian Poulter who remains a threat to Stenson’s charge towards history.
Tomorrow, the 37-year-old Swede will be attempting to become the first player to win the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same season. In September, he won the Tour Championship in the States to clinch the points list, and he is in pole position to replicate that achievement in imperious fashion in Dubai.
Coming into this last event of the inaugural Final Series, Stenson was one of three players who still controlled their destiny in terms of becoming European Number One. Ultimately, a victory for the Swede may not be a requirement, but it would ensure that is remarkable resurgence from the depths of the game reaches an all-new pedestal.
Going into the final round, Stenson will be one shot ahead of Victor Dubuisson, who claimed his maiden European Tour title last week in Turkey. The 23-year-old Frenchman continued that form by posting a third round of 64 – which included 11 birdies – to move right into position to claim consecutive victories.
Justin Rose could still pip Stenson to win the Race to Dubai, should he come from six shots behind and win the Championship here. Graeme McDowell can do the same, but at eight-under his chance looks to have passed.
Ian Poulter remains the most likely challenger, but should the Englishman claim the title, Stenson would still win the Race if he were to finish second. However, Poulter is typically confident, particularly after he caught the Swede during the third round – before Stenson brilliantly birdied four of his last five holes.
“I caught him today and I'll catch him tomorrow, it's whether or not I can keep hold of him,” said Poulter. “I'm pushing really hard on this course and it's easy to make mistakes when you are doing that. I made two bogeys on par threes which is frustrating but I am right in there and I can't ask any more than that.”
There is also a personal dynamic between the two, with a $100 bet on the line with Stenson, in addition to the ignominy of the loser having to serve as the other’s waiter on an evening out.
“The odds would be significantly shorter now and I have put myself in position to try to kick his backside tomorrow,” Poulter added. “It's fun hunting Henrik and if I can get off to a decent start it's going to be great on the back nine.
”Being European Number One would be a huge highlight in my career.”
It’s a highlight that Stenson is on course to claim, as he seeks to become the second Swede to win the money title after Robert Karlsson in 2008. Although there will possibly be a few different scenarios in play on Sunday, Stenson is fully focussed on just winning the event.
”I am trying to avoid all that,” the FedEx Cup champion said. “I know I can win The Race to Dubai even if I don't win here, but why not try my hardest to win this tournament? If I do I know that both trophies are coming home with me.
”It's a great achievement to be the one who wins the most money throughout the year and I would love to emulate Robert. The guys are going to try their best to attack but if anything it makes me try even harder.
”They are the ones that need to overtake me so I am trying to stick to my game plan. It's working so far so I don't see any point changing.”
If Stenson has been arguably the best player in the world during the past six months, three men who were undisputedly number one at some point are inside the top ten in Dubai. All three have had varyingly disappointing seasons on the course, with Lee Westwood at 11-under with Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy a shot further behind at ten-under.
For Westwood, it is a tale of two contrasting nines on Saturday after he shot out of the gate quickly. “I got in my own way a little bit around the back nine there,” Westwood said. “It's a good 65 but seven under through 11, you're looking for a few less than that.
”My swing hasn't been in sync all year, I'm sort of fumbling my way around the golf course and it's something I'm going to work on over the winter.”
For those three, tomorrow is an opportunity to end a poor year on a good note, while for Henrik Stenson it is a day all about trying to win the Race to Dubai – and ensure that Ian Poulter will be his waiter for an evening.
And that is surely a prize worth winning.