Matthew Fitzpatrick has revealed being crowned Europe's Number One was not on his radar this week - but it may be coming into view after a third round 69 at the 2020 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
The Englishman's Race to Dubai fate is not in his own hands at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa and Lee Westwood all safe in the knowledge that they will take home the Harry Vardon Trophy should they win the fourth Rolex Series event of the season.
Fitzpatrick - the 2016 winner of this event - entered the week outside of the top 15 in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex but after rounds of 68-68-69, he enters the last 18 holes of the season in a share of the tournament lead with Reed and Laurie Canter, and a chance to win it all.
"The Race to Dubai, entering the week, I think I was 16th," he said. "Honestly wasn't really on my radar.
"I'm realistic about these things. I knew I needed a lot of results to go my way and I need to play well myself. I was just concentrating on me playing well and if the rest takes care of itself, then happy days."
Fitzpatrick made a fourth birdie of the last to go with a single bogey on the last to get to 11 under, while playing partner Reed produced a short game and scrambling masterclass in a 71.
"I hate him," joked Fitzpatrick of the 2018 Masters Tournament winner. "No, I don't. I think he's absolutely fantastic. For me, he's one of the best on Tour if not the best.
"He's so humble about it as well. He's a great bloke, really. We've had a good laugh out there today with plenty of talking.
"It's very impressive."
Like Fitzpatrick, Canter is looking for a first Rolex Series victory this week but while the 2016 Ryder Cup player has five European Tour wins to his name, Canter had not recorded a top ten in 77 appearances before this season.
He now has four in his last 11 starts with two runner up finishes, but he knows a win on Sunday would take him to another level altogether.
"I guess if you put my name next to the rest of the top ten it would change my life more than the other nine guys, let's be honest," he said. "Let's see. Right now, I just need a good feed and then have a good sleep, wake up tomorrow and see what I turn up with and obviously do my best.
"It is obviously a massive tournament but the golf doesn't really change for me. I'm just going to keep sort of plodding away and doing that and hopefully can finish right up there."
