The DP World Tour Championship, which starts on Thursday at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates, isn’t lacking in familiar names. The contenders include the major champions Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Adam Scott and Shane Lowry.
A winner will also be crowned in the season-long Race to Dubai. It will either be McIlroy, who enjoys a substantial lead, or Thriston Lawrence. Others pointed to receive the extra payout that goes to the top 10 in the final standings — first place will receive $2 million — include Billy Horschel, Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre.
Here are five to keep an eye on:
Matteo Manassero
Manassero, 31, was supposed to be the next big thing in professional golf.
Consider what he accomplished as a 16-year-old amateur in 2009:
Youngest winner ever of the British Amateur.
The low amateur in the British Open at Turnberry in Scotland, finishing just four strokes behind Stewart Cink and Tom Watson.
The No. 1-ranked amateur in the world.
Bottom line: The future for the star from Northern Italy was limitless.
Correction: Definitely limitless.
He turned pro in 2010 and picked up his first tour victory that October, followed by one triumph apiece in 2011, 2012 and 2013. But after that, he didn’t win on the DP World Tour for the next 11 years.
