Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño’s win at the Barclays Singapore Open has seen the Spaniard make a giant leap in The Race to Dubai as he moved from 80th to 15th place and into the reckoning for the $7.5 million bonus pool at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World in December.
Fernandez-Castaño’s first win of the year came after a play-off victory over Philippine Juvic Pagunsan following a rain-affected weekend which saw the tournament reduced to 54 holes and the play-off suspended after regular play before taking place on Monday.
Having accumulated less than €50,000 by the end of September, the 31 year old was not so long ago struggling to even get in to the top 115 in The Race to Dubai, so he was understandably thrilled to have sealed his place in the season-ending tournament, where he will battle it out for the $7.5 million prize fund while hoping to consolidate his place amongst the top 15, who share a further pool of $7.5 million.
“It’s just amazing to think that a few weeks ago I was worried about having to ask for a medical extension from the Tour because of my back injury and then here I am now; 15th in The Race to Dubai and going to the Dubai World Championship,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have thought that was possible but it just goes to show how crazy this game and life can be sometimes. It is such a big tournament in Dubai that I think we all want to be there. The money on offer there is unbelievable and if you can do well there then the World Ranking points, Ryder Cup points and everything that comes with such an event can really help you move in the right direction.
“I will be able to really look forward to going to Dubai to end the season. Winning in Singapore has totally transformed my year and I hope that I can just keep going and playing well and continue to get better so that I have another chance to get into contention in Dubai.”
Steve Webster was another big mover in The Race to Dubai over the weekend after he moved into the top 60, occupying 59th place after jumping from 70th thanks to his tied 11th place finish at Sentosa Golf Club.
The Englishman was facing the prospect of Qualifying School at one point this year after missing nine cuts in his first 20 appearances. But a run of eight tournaments without a missed cut, including four top 20s, has launched him right back into the frame to appear at The European Tour’s season finale.
His compatriot James Morrison, meanwhile, has also snuck into the cut-off point for the Dubai World Championship, his eighth place finish moving him from 78th spot to 60th in The Race to Dubai.
