Dubuisson eyes another Turkish delight in Antalya
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Victor Dubuisson is relishing the prospect of defending a European Tour title for the first time in this week’s Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the penultimate event of the 2014 season.
The mercurial Frenchman secured a breakthrough victory by two shots last year after closing with three birdies in his final four holes at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, a victory that helped him finish sixth on The Race to Dubai last year.
Since claiming his maiden European Tour title, Dubuisson has become one of the game’s most recognisable figures thanks chiefly to his exploits as a debutant in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, where he finished runner-up to Jason Day, and in The Ryder Cup, where he was unbeaten in three matches.
Dubuisson therefore returns to The Montgomerie Maxx Royal with heightened expectations but, in keeping with most of the challenges he has faced thus far in his fledgling career, it would come as no surprise if the 24 year old were to successfully defend his title.
Currently 11th on The Race to Dubai, Dubuisson will be looking to shrug off the back injury which forced his withdrawal from last week’s WGC – HSBC Champions after the second round as he looks to finish the season on a high.
Rory McIlroy holds a commanding lead at the top of The Race to Dubai but his supremacy can still be challenged by Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia and BMW Masters champion Marcel Siem, currently second, third and fourth respectively in The Race to Dubai.
Donaldson in particular will fancy his chances of taking home the lion’s share of the 10 million points on offer after his stunning performance in Antalya last year.
Donaldson went into the final round in a tie for eighth place, eight shots adrift of Dubuisson’s lead, but the Welshman pushed his Ryder Cup team-mate all the way with a closing round of 63 which included eight birdies and a hole in one at the 16th hole.
Ultimately, Donaldson had to settle for second place on 22 under par, but the 39 year old will be hoping to go one better this week when he tees up at the magnificent Montgomerie Maxx Royal, which was designed by Colin Montgomerie who, fittingly, will be making his 600th European Tour appearance.
Garcia, who is making his debut in the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is one of eight members of Paul McGinley’s triumphant European Ryder Cup team teeing up in Turkey, with Dubuisson, Donaldson, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and the English duo of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood also in action.
A total of 17 players from the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking will line up in Antalya.
The tournament will be the final opportunity for players to secure their berths in the 60-man field for next week’s DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which brings the curtain down on the 2014 season.
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