Antoine Rozner, still at the top of the bill with Rasmus Højgaard and Rory McIlroy

Author of the one and only eagle in this 3rd round of the DP World Tour Championship, Antoine Rozner (photo) preserves all his chances of winning this Sunday in Dubai. With his 69 (-3) of the day, the Frenchman shares the lead of the tournament at -12 (204) with two top players, Rasmus Højgaard (66) and Rory McIlroy (68). Projected 4th in the Race before the last round, the Racingman is more than ever in the running to join Matthieu Pavon and Victor Perez on the PGA Tour in January 2025!

LV, in Dubai

Eleven years ago, during the 2013 final of the DP World Tour, Henrik Stenson had pulled off a masterstroke on the 18th green offering him both victory and the scepter of the Race. An eagle from elsewhere for a school 64 (-8) and a total score of -25, six shots ahead of the Englishman Ian Poulter.

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At the recording just after signing his 69 (-3) this Saturday, Antoine Rozner spoke of the Swede's feat. Because he also slammed a sublime eagle in this Jet Moving Day, the only one of the day, which allows him to remain in the lead of the tournament at -12 (204).

« It was a great battleunderlines the Frenchman. I didn't necessarily produce my best Golf of the week. But I was never off topic. I drove well, but in terms of irons, with sometimes complicated flags, I didn't necessarily manage to be more aggressive at that moment. It's good golf, I agree, but yesterday the level was above (65 sans bogey). There is no photo. »

« And what about this shot on the 18th?he adds. Except that I wasn't aiming there (laughs). I aimed 6 meters to the right. I had a little push, and then a little bit of stress to see her go into the river… But it fell right in the right place. A la Stenson, what! It's fantastic to finish like that and put yourself back in a really good position for the last lap. »

The Racingman shares the leadership chair with Rasmus Højgaard et Rory McIlroyrespectively 66 (-6) and 68 (-4) today. He will start in the penultimate part (with the Swede Jesper Svensson) at 11:35 a.m. local (8:35 a.m. in France). He will let the world No. 3, with whom he shared this 3rd round, have the honor of flying into the final group (at 11:45 a.m. local) in the company of the Dane. Not worse in any way, as playing with such a sacred monster can, sometimes, inhibit you!

It's not easy. Already because he puts huge strains on the drive (sic). We don't see the day. But he's a fantastic player. He was nice to me, he put me at ease from the start.

Antoine Rozner on Rory McIlroy

« It's not easyconfirms Antoine Rozner. Already because he puts huge strains on the drive (sic). We don't see the day. But he's a fantastic player. He was nice to me, he put me at ease from the start. The world around? We're still used to it during the season but I think I managed it pretty well. Frankly, it was really a great pleasure. It was the first time I played with him. I had a really good time. I hope he does too. Being in the penultimate part, there is no problem. I'm going to be a little under the radar to try to get ahead of the others and we'll see how it goes afterwards… »

Not very far from the PGA Tour…

Projected 4th in the Race, the three-time winner on the DP World Tour is more than ever on the way to join his compatriots Matthieu Pavon et Victor Perez on the PGA Tour. He only has eighteen holes left to negotiate. Certainly the most important of his life as a professional golfer.

« For now, I don't think of anythinghe warns. To be honest, I don't know what to tell you. I still have a big day to go. I try to stay focused on my game tomorrow, that's the only thing that's important. A lot can still happen, it's the same speech as yesterday, I'm sorry. It's the truth. I will try to come back with a good state of mind tomorrow (Sunday) and have a good game… »

Rory McIlroy also really wants everything to go his way in this last lap. He made no secret mid-week that his goal was to win the tournament and the Race. Like Stenson in 2013. And as he himself managed to do twice already. In 2012 and 2015.

« I'm a little disappointed with the way I played these last five holes (five pars), but I'm still in a very good position for tomorrowbreathes the Briton. I'm tied for the lead. I'm on a golf course that I really like and on which I have already had success. So yes, it's a great opportunity to end the year on a very good note. I'm going to go out there tomorrow and give everything I can. I hope things go my way and I can stand on that 18th green with both trophies. »

« I've already managed to do it twicehe continues. Yes, twice. So yeah, doing it again would be awesome. I am very proud of my consistency, especially on this circuit, especially in the Rolex Series. I don't feel like I finished outside the top 5 in many of them this year. This would be a great way to end the year. »

We talked about it earlier this week (with his brother, Nicolai), we said it would be great if another Højgaard could defend his title. It would be really cool if that happened.

Rasmus Højgaard

Rasmus Højgaard, miraculously made on the 18th green with an improbable par after a ball in the river on his put-in then another ball on the edge of out-of-bounds, will for his part perhaps imitate his twin brother, Nicolaiwinner last year but absent due to his insufficient results to enter the top 50 of the 2024 Race.

« I try not to worry too much about what lies aheadprotects the recent winner of theIrish Open devant… Rory McIlroy. I'm trying to play one hole at a time and see if I can get the best possible score each time, like today on the 18th. My goal for tomorrow is to try to keep the bogeys away. But it's true that it would be pretty cool if I won. We talked about it earlier this week (with his brother, Nicolai), we said it would be great if another Højgaard could defend his title. It would be really cool if that happened. »

Objective The Open for several French people

In the French camp, apart from Antoine Rozner, the objective will above all be to secure a ticket for The Open next July at Royal Portrush. 16th to -5, Ugo Coussaud is projected 30th in the Race. He absolutely must bring out the “game” this Sunday to hope to play his first Major.

« I need a nice day tomorrowanalyzes the member of the Team St Laurent. There are big points. If I make a top 10, it can go very quickly. We will do the best we can. Too bad the places went from 30 to 25. There seem to be too many Europeans compared to the United States at The Open. The bottom line is that there were a lot of spots given to qualifying in Europe in addition to the 30 spots on the DP World Tour. Compare to what the USA can have. But they have three Majors, we only one. Fewer Europeans next year, that’s a bit the direction that world golf is taking at the moment… »

If there's a good start, a few putts that fall, it could be 6, 7 under and who knows? I know I can do it…

Romain Langasque

28s to -1, Frédéric Lacroix et Romain Langasque are projected 28th in the Race. The first is only three places from the British Open, the second six from the PGA Tour (last qualified for the moment, the Japanese Rikuya Hoshino16th in the Race). The Riviera, who could not do better than a 73 (+1) today, still wants to believe it.

« There is still a chanceadmits Romain Langasque. The course gets harder and harder. Tomorrow it will be even harder. I'll try to get to the end. If there's a good start, a few putts that fall, it could be 6, 7 under and who knows? I know I can do it… »

24th of this same Race, Julien Guerrierwho is playing better and better (76, 71, 70), has his ticket for Portrush for the moment. But we will still have to make an effort on this final day of the 2023-24 European Tour season. As for David Ravetto50th at +9, in the absence of a qualifier for a Major, he will have to wake up at dawn for the 4th time in a row.

He is expected at 7:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. in France) on tee number 1 (with the Englishman Dan Bradburywinner of the last FedEx French Open). It will then be time to take a fortnight's rest before going on the attack again for a new season. This will begin for him in South Africa, from December 5 to 8, Down Bank Golf Challengechez Gary Player !

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Photo : ROSS KINNAIRD / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP