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At this week’s Genesis Championship, players will compete for spots in the DP World Tour Play-Offs and their future on the tour.
Matthew Southgate insists the pressure to keep his card is nothing new as he fights in partnership with Rolex to finish in the top 114 of the Race to Dubai rankings and retain his playing privileges for next season.
The Englishman is one of many players fighting for a living at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. A first 70th in Incheon has him moving in the right direction, but still leaves him on the outside looking in at 123rd.
This is the first time in his DP World Tour career that the 36-year-old – who started the week ranked 127th – is not happy on either side of the finish line in the final event of the regular season, but he insists there is pressure This is part of everyday life for a professional golfer.
· READ MORE: Genesis Championship – Day One Report
· READ MORE: Genesis Championship Day 1 Recap
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“I left school at 16 and every shot I hit was important anyway,” he said. “Either we play golf where we’re under pressure, or you play casual golf, which is just fun, and I don’t get the opportunity to play a lot of casual golf.
“My brain is very trained to think the next shot is coming [something] I do my best wherever I am. Even if I made it or died last, I will still challenge my heart.
“We are always under pressure. There is always something to play with. Everyone here has something to play for. People are trying to get to Abu Dhabi, trying to keep cards, trying to get to Dubai, trying to get into the Open, trying to get a PGA TOUR card.
“Everyone has their own reason for wanting to get out of bed in the morning and feeling uncomfortable the first time. You don’t become immune to it, but you get used to it.”
“I just feel like I play golf under pressure and I’ve been doing that for 20 years. So it’s a challenge to give your best on every shot.”
Santiago Tarrio started the week in a better position than Southgate at 116th, but after a three-over 75 result the Spaniard revealed in the green room that he now believes he needs a “miracle” to secure a trip to qualifying Avoid school.
Marcel Schneider On Thursday he was firmly in control of his fate in 111th place and was understandably in good spirits after a first 68 moved him up seven places.
However, it’s not just those fighting at the wrong end of the Race to Dubai who are looking to pick up vital points as the top 70 compete in the DP World Tour play-offs at the end of this week.
These 70 will make it to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, while the top 50 will then move on to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship where Nicolai Hojgaard is the defending champion.
As it stands, the Dane will not be able to defend his title and even though he slipped to 80th after a par 72, he was still confident about his prospects.
Richard Mansell And Alejandro del Rey had both been in the top 70 since their first results of the season and while the Englishman didn’t want to focus on his 66th place, the Spaniard was all about defending his 68th place as both men moved up after rounds 67 and 68 respectively.
Also in the top 70 at the start of the week Shubhankar Sharmawith the Indian fully focused on the need for strong results – both this week and in Abu Dhabi next month – if he is to be among the top 50 heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
One man stalking this trio is Casey Jarvis and an opening score of 67 saw him travel easily to the United Arab Emirates after starting the week ranked 77th, although he opted to take it one try at a time.
