Race to Dubai: European Tour heating up at Portugal Masters

This week, there is not just a battle at the top for the Portugal Masters title, but there is also the fight to retain European Tour cards in the Race to Dubai.

Nine of the golfer in the top ten and ties at the halfway stage at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura are in the trap to make the top 117 on the Race to Dubai list, with the performances of some making sure they are safe for the 2020 season.

36-hole leader Oliver Fisher was one of those in danger, as he started the week in 112th on the Race to Dubai list. He holds a one-shot lead in the event, and as it stands, the Englishman would finish the week just outside the top 50 in the Dubai standings.

The likes of Jeunghun Wang (119th to 78th), Justin Walters (121st to 80th) and Haydn Porteous (107th to 92nd) are all currently well safe of the 117 mark, as they all sit in the top five on the leaderboard in Portugal.

Darren Fichardt, on the other hand, sits in T-5 at the halfway stage at the Dom Pedro Victoria, and with those Race to Dubai points, the South African is only into 114th.

Jack Singh Brar has moved up from the infamous 117th spot and into 108th as it stands. He currently sits inside the top ten in Portugal.

Meanwhile, the last three places to stay exempt for 2020 are all taken by golfers who have made the cut. They are Min Woo Lee (115th, -1), Niklas Lemke (116th, -1) and Hugo Leon (117th, -4), with the Chilean having moved up to take the final Tour card retention spot.

For Callum Shinkwin (101st) and Lorenzo Gagli (102nd), it could be a nervy couple of days, as the pair both missed the cut at the Portugal Masters, and they could see themselves sliding down the Race to Dubai leaderboard over the next two days.

The South African duo of Louis de Jager (currently 119th) and Justin Walters (123rd) still have hopes of reaching the top 117, but they will need even more than their current T-9 and 4th spots in Portugal, respectively if they are to stay on the European Tour for 2020.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (126th), Jamie Donaldson (127th), Bernd Ritthammer (129th), Bradley Dregde (130th) and Sihwan Kim (131st) are all still mathematically in play, but they will need something extraordinary over the weekend.

However, for the likes of Clement Sordet, Lee Slattery, Paul Dunne, Alexander Levy and Max Schmitt, their time on the European Tour might be coming to an end come the DP World Tour Championship in November.

The five all failed to make the cut in Portugal, and all now sit outside the top 117 on the RTD. However, for Sordet (118th) and Slattery (121st), there is still a chance should some of those above them slip up going down the stretch at Dom Pedro Victoria.

Race To Dubai Leaderboard (Bold = Made Cut):

(Golfer – As it stands RTD)

1 (-12): Oliver Fisher (ENG) – 54th (+58)

T2 (-11): Jeunghun Wang (KOR) – 78th (+41)

T2 (-11): Justin Walters (RSA) – 80th (+41)

T5 (-9): Haydn Porteous (RSA) – 92nd (+15)

MC (+3): Callum Shinkwin (ENG) – 101st (-9)

MC (E): Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) – 102nd (-6)

T9 (-7): Jack Singh Brar (ENG) – 108th (+9)

T5 (-9): Darren Fichardt (RSA) – 114th (+14)

T63 (-1): Min Woo Lee (AUS) – 115th (-5)

T63 (-1): Niklas Lemke (SWE) – 116th (-5)

T29 (-4): Hugo Leon (CHL) – 117th (+3)

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MC (+6): Clement Sordet (FRA) – 118th (-5)

T9 (-7): Louis de Jager (RSA) – 119th (+4)

MC (+5): Lee Slattery (ENG) – 121st (-6)

4 (-10): Justin Walters (RSA) – 123rd (+25)

MC (+3): Paul Dunne (IRL) – 124th (-6)

MC (+3): Alexander Levy (FRA) – 125th (-3)

T19 (-5): Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) – 126th (-1)

T9 (-7): Jamie Donaldson (WAL) – 127th (+2)

MC (+1): Max Schmitt (GER) – 128th (-4)

T63 (-1): Bernd Ritthammer (GER) – 129th (-3)

T35 (-3): Bradley Dredge (WAL) – 130th (-)

T35 (-3): Sihwan Kim (USA) – 132nd (-)