DP World Tour Championship: Congested leaderboard tees up a dramatic finale in Race to Dubai

Well, if it all comes down to this, in both the battle for the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai, then fans of the European Tour are in for a treat on Sunday.

With one round to play at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and subsequently in the 2020 season, Race leader Patrick Reed shares tournament top spot with Matthew Fitzpatrick, the 2016 winner in Dubai, and the in-form Laurie Canter. Reed is the 2018 Masters champion, no less.

On 11-under, the trio sits one ahead of a four-strong group highlighted by Lee Westwood, the inaugural DP World Tour Championship (DPWTC) winner and already a two-time European No 1. Alongside him? Only reigning Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre, fast-rising star Viktor Hovland and Spain’s Adri Arnaus.

Danny Willett, meanwhile, is lurking on 8-under, one back from Finland's Sami Valimaki. Like Reed, Willett owns a Green Jacket, and two years ago captured the DPWTC as well.

Looking, though, at the scrap for the season-long title, Reed or Westwood would seal it should either get over the line in the DPWTC. Yet, even with the opportunity to become the first American to snaffle the Order of Merit, Reed continues to trot out the party line: namely, focusing solely on taking it the old “one shot at a time”.

“Trying not to really think about [the tournament] honestly,” he said having birdied the last on Saturday to rescue a 1-under-par 71. He began the day with a two-shot lead.

“If it happens, it would be unbelievable,” Reed added. “It was always a goal of mine obviously to win golf tournaments, but to win this one and also the Race to Dubai, and be the first American, would be amazing.

“We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. We still have a full 18 holes left. You can't really sit back there and think as much about that as just stay in the present and try to play some good golf.”

Reed won’t need reminding what he’s up against. Not only the weight of history, but in Westwood, someone who’s got the two trophies already on his CV.

Laurie Canter shares the lead with Matthew Fitzpatrick and Patrick Reed. Getty Images

The Englishman, who kicked off the season by winning in Abu Dhabi, doubled-bogeyed the par-3 4th on Saturday, then rebounded brilliantly. He reeled off five birdies - four in five holes to start the back nine - to sign for a 68.

Even more impressive, given Westwood came into the week with a troublesome back.

“I'm not quite 100 per cent,” he said. “Kind of niggling a little in my lower back. So I get around 14, 15, I start to feel it.

“No complaints or excuses. I'm swinging it as good as I have all year and hit it further than I have all year.”

Considering what’s on the line, the pressure pinches too. And, remember, Westwood’s won 25 times on the tour and played in nine Ryder Cups.

Lee Westwood is in a group of four players one shot behind the leaders. Getty Images

“Yeah, it’s very different because you have little things creeping into your mind all the time that drag you away from your process and what you really should be focusing on,” he said. “So it's a distraction if you let it be.”

For others, it’d be easy to divert attention, what with so many permutations and projections in the Race. For example, Fitzpatrick came into the week 16th in the standings, but grab a second DPWTC win and other things go his way, and the European No 1 could be his. He goes out in the penultimate group, with MacIntyre in toe.

“Honestly wasn't really on my radar coming into the week,” Fitzpatrick said after birdieing 18 to post a 69. “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 playing well and, if the rest takes care of itself, then happy days.”

Danny Willett, winner of this tournament in 2018, is in contention heading into the final round. Getty Images

Out after him with Reed, Canter is seeking a first Tour victory having come close before: he’s two seconds in his past six starts.

As a Rolex Series event, the DPWTC carries a $3 million first prize and three-year exemption. Pretty decent one, then, to break the duck.

“Yeah, I guess,” Canter said following his 68. “To be honest I haven't thought about it that much. I guess if you put my name next to the rest of the top-10, it would change my life more than the other nine guys, let's be honest.

“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.”

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Checks continue

A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.

Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Electric scooters: some rules to remember

Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes

How to invest in gold

Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.

A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.

Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”

Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”

Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”

By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.

You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.

You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.

Result

Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2

Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)