Antoine Rozner is on target. Engaged this weekend in Dubai for the final of the DP World Tour, the European golf circuit, the 31-year-old Frenchman is close to an immense feat. If he is no longer in the running to win the final victory, promised to Rory McIlroy, almost assured of winning his sixth title on the Old Continent, Rozner is well on his way to punching his ticket to the PGA Tour, the prestigious American circuit.
Indeed, the French golfer completed his Saturday in the position of co-leader on the Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course in Dubai, notably scoring an eagle (two shots under par) at hole 18, the only one of the day on this difficulty. After a start to the 3rd round made tricky by the windy conditions, marked by a bogey at hole 4 and birdies at 5 and 9, Rozner hung on, his good performance on 18 allowing him to stay in contact with McIlroy and the Dane Rasmus Hojgaard (-12) in the lead before the last day of competition, scheduled for Sunday.
“I held on”
As a reminder, the first 17 golfers in the “Race to Dubai” ranking, i.e. the cumulative points scored throughout the European season, will access the PGA Tour next season. Projected to 4th place thanks to his exploits of the day, Rozner is therefore well on his way to joining Victor Perez, Matthieu Pavon and the crème de la crème of world golf in 2025, since all he needs is a top 5 in this final of the DP WorldTour. The 31-year-old Parisian is currently three shots ahead of sixth place, Tyrrell Hatton (-9).
“An eagle at 18 helps a lot. I’m happy with my day, he reacted to Canal + Golf. I didn’t produce my best of the week but I hung in there. I made some important putts on the way back. I am happy with my 69 (…) I will try to stay focused on tomorrow, only tomorrow. You have to keep a good state of mind. We’ll see what happens at the end,” explained the man who could see his career take a new turn at the end of the last round on Sunday.
