DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Francesco Molinari missed two par putts from less than 2 feet in his opening round of the World Tour Championship on Thursday to give Tommy Fleetwood a sliver of a chance of keeping the European Tour season title.
Molinari was cruising at one stage, having reached 6 under par after 14 holes, but three-putted the 15th and 18th holes to finish on 4-under 68 at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Fleetwood, his only remaining rival in the Race to Dubai, completed his bogey-free round with a wonderful 25-foot birdie putt from off the green on the par-5 18th, and finished just one shot behind Molinari at 69.