Wait, What? Reed, Morikawa Vie For European Tour's Race To Dubai After Just Two Combined Non-U.S. Starts

There are lame season-long points races and then there are just plain non-sensical, credibility-zappers. While the pandemic undoubtedly cut into the chances of leader Patrick Reed or contender Collin Morikawa from a spot start or two in Europe, that leader Reed played twice outside of the U.S. (Saudi Arabia, Wentworth) and Morikawa has zero Continental starts, making this week’s concluding competition all a bit absurd.

But as Derek Lawrenson reports, one of the “Race” contenders who did play a robust European Tour schedule, Lee Westwood, defends the format on the grounds that Reed and Morikawa turned up in Dubai.

“I can see why people might consider it weird if he won the race but we waived the rules on the number of events you have to be play for reasons we all understand,” said the veteran Englishman. 'I'd rather give him the credit for coming over here and playing. He's seizing his chance to make history owing to his major win and the pandemic.

Reed goes into the season finale starting Thursday in pole position, but Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood and Westwood all have their fate in their own hands, knowing a victory would be sufficient to dislodge the former Masters champion.

The Race purse has been lowered to $7.5 million from $10 million, with $1.5 million going to that season-long winner.