Laurie Canter looks for first pro victory in a decade at season-ending DP World Tour Championship

The Race to Dubai has become a sprint to the finish with a leaderboard resembling a peloton going into the final round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

With 30 minutes of the third round to go, there was actually a seven-way tie for the lead, before race leader Patrick Reed, Matt Fitzpatrick and unheralded Englishman Laurie Canter pulled a stroke ahead by birdieing the par five 18th.

With one stroke separating so many players, it will clearly need a special round to claim the $3 million first prize, not to mention the $500,000 bonus for winning the season-long competition. 

The Race to Dubai has become a sprint to the finish with a leaderboard resembling a peloton

Unheralded Englishman Laurie Canter pulled a stroke ahead by birdieing the par five 18th

Under the circumstances, perhaps the race winner will also be awarded a yellow jersey.

It would be quite something if Canter claimed his first pro victory. After living up to his name for his first decade as a pro, the 31-year-old has suddenly broken into a veritable gallop. From 2011-19 he made total earnings of around £350,000. Now look what he could earn in one afternoon.

Not for the first time this season, Canter delivered a round that made you wonder why on earth it has taken him so long to break through. The long hitter might still be best known not for his golf but for the oft-told fact he mixed in the same junior tennis circles as Andy Murray. 

He will be exceedingly glad he chose golf if he can somehow keep mind and soul together and follow yesterday’s fine 68 with another low one.

Canter delivered a round that made you wonder why it has taken him so long to break through

‘Looking at the other guys up there you’d have to say a win would change my life a lot more than it would change theirs,’ he said. ‘I’m going to have a good feed, a good night’s sleep and then see what I can do.’

Canter is currently 44th on the Race to Dubai having never before finished inside the top 150. ‘I honestly wish I had a smart answer to give you to explain it,’ he said. ‘I did a lot of reflecting during lockdown and have taken on a bit more responsibility, but that’s about it.’

Reed began with a two shot lead but it’s clearly not easy trying to become the first American to win Europe’s Order of Merit. The 30 year old Texan was being generous when he described his play as ‘sloppy. ‘ 

In reality, he escaped with a 71 thanks to some outrageous good fortune and his brilliant short game. His caddy thought his tee shots at the 17th and 18th had finished in the water but he got lucky both times, and took full advantage to play those holes in one under.

Canter is currently 44th on the Race to Dubai having never before finished inside the top 150

By his side, Fitzpatrick had the opposite experience, with putts at the 14th and 15th that unluckily horseshoed out.

As for the quartet breathing down the necks of the leading trio, Scot Bob MacIntyre was named rookie of the year at this event 12 months ago and the 24 year old leftie could now walk off with prizes even more substantial. Gifted Norwegian Viktor Hovland flew for 28 hours following his victory in Mexico last Sunday and is therefore chasing quite the double.

Then there’s ageless Lee Westwood, bidding at 47 to become the oldest Order of Merit winner by five full years. It should be some day.