'It’s always been a dream of mine to win the Race to Dubai' — Reed warning for McIlroy

Patrick Reed. Picture: Getty Images

Patrick Reed sounds determined to deny Rory McIlroy his eighth Harry Vardon Trophy after he claimed his second DP World Tour title in three weeks to leap to the top of the Race to Dubai.

McIlroy won his seventh season-long race last season, leapfrogging Seve Ballesteros in the all-time standings as he chases Colin Montgomerie’s record eight wins.

But Reed’s win in the Qatar Masters means he now tops the Race to Dubai and that will not have gone unnoticed by the Holywood star, who is 1,990 points behind in 30th.

The 2018 Masters champion followed his win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and play-off defeat in last week's Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship with a two-shot win over Scotland’s Calum Hill in Doha and made no secret he wants that Harry Vardon Trophy.s

“Trust me, you’d rather be leading than hunting and chasing,” former LIV Golf star Reed said after a win that leaves him well placed to improve his PGA Tour status by winning one of ten dual cards this season.

“And so for me, it's always been one of those things that's always been a dream of mine to be an American who wins the Race to Dubai.”

Collin Morikawa became the first American to win the Harry Vardon Trophy in 2021, but Reed, who will play on the DP World Tour this season before returning to the PGA Tour in the autumn, sounds determined to become the second.

“This little run I’ve had, two wins and a second, it’s awesome,” said Reed, who held off final round challenges from Hill and Finland’s Oliver Lindell to win on 16 under and jump provisionally to 17th in the world.

“We couldn't ask anything more than what we did. It’s special to come out here, especially to get two wins early on  in the season, and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

Reed took a two-stroke lead into the final round and while Lindell moved a shot ahead of him with a five-under par front nine, the Finn struggled on the greens and shot a two-over back nine en route to a 70 that left him joint fifth.

As Lindell faltered, Reed birdied the 10th and 11th to go two clear and added another birdie at the 14th before he parred his way home to win by two shots from Hill, who came home in 30 for a 67 that eased the pain of his play-off defeat to Freddy Schott in Bahrain.

“It wasn’t looking very good there on the front nine," said Reed, who turned in one over. "To lose the lead like that and then to be able to kind of flip the switch there on the back nine obviously felt amazing.”

As a Masters champion, he’s already guaranteed his spot at Augusta National, where he was third last year, just two shots outside the play-off between McIlroy and Justin Rose.

After consolidating himself in the world’s top-20, he’s certain to qualify for the other three Majors, which are crucial in the Race to Dubai.

“The golf we’ve played since basically the off-season has been some stellar golf, I feel really confident in my golf game right now, and it’s always awesome to come and play the way we do, especially over here,” Reed said.

“This is going to allow me to take confidence going into the rest of the year, especially with the different ways I had to do it. I had a really comfortable lead in Dubai, and then I had to come chase last week, and then here to have a lead and then lose it and have to fight back.

“I basically did it all three different ways and for me it’s just kind of build on the great things and just move forward and look forward to the rest of the year.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to win the Race to Dubai, especially as an American. Americans have always come over and supported this Tour and it’s always been a dream to come over and have an opportunity to win the Race to Dubai.

“This year we’re off to a good start. I know there’s a lot of the year left but got ourselves up on top, now hopefully just continue playing some solid golf and get our chance.”

Three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington (54), meanwhile, broke par in all four rounds, closing with a 71 to finish tied for 34th on five-under in his 500th DP World Tour start.

Will Enefer of England and winning caddie Moeketsi Tsatsi after their win in the 2026 CIRCA Cape Town Open.

Hurley claims first top 10 for 20 months

It was also a great week for Gary Hurley as he claimed his first top 10 finish for 20 months in the HotelPlanner Tour’s CIRCA Cape Town Open at Royal Cape.

The West Waterford man (33) missed last season due to a career-threatening shoulder injury but followed rounds of 65, 73 and 70 with a three-under 69 to finish solo ninth on 11-under.

He finished just three strokes outside a playoff that saw England’s Will Enefer beat South Africa’s Hennie Otto with a birdie at the first play-off hole after they’d tied on 14-under.

Liam Nolan shot 72 and Conor Purcell a 69 to leave them tied for 27th on six under.

Enefer climbed through the field with a 69 built around his five birdies in six holes over the turn. Otto signed for a closing 68 and didn’t drop a single shot on a challenging final day.

Playing the par-four 18th again as the first playoff hole, Enefer hit a solid approach to 10 feet and holed the birdie putt to take the title. His caddie, Moeketsi Tsatsi, received the Sunshine Tour medallion for the winning caddie.

“I’m ecstatic. It’s great to get over the line. It’s been a long four days and I stayed patient out there, and luckily came away with the win,” he said.