Fisher fails to fire
Ross Fisher failed to make the move he was looking for when the Dubai World Championship resumed today.
Needing to finish first or second to have any hope of capturing the European Tour money list title, World Match Play champion Fisher was down in 40th position after a disappointing opening round of 73.
And he dropped three further places by remaining one over par after nine more holes.
Two days before his 29th birthday, Fisher pulled his approach to the short fourth into a bunker and failed to get up and down.
He did then birdie the long seventh, but with fellow Englishman Robert Rock going to the turn in a four-under 32 and Frenchman Thomas Levet picking up four birdies in the first eight, Fisher knew he had to play the back nine much better.
Out in front on seven under was Australian Robert Allenby and with the leaders out last from the second round onwards, he did not resume until 12.40pm local time.
Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, paired with Swede Johan Edfors at midday, was in a tie for fifth, but that was not good enough to make him the youngest Tour number one since Seve Ballesteros in 1976 with Lee Westwood in a tie for second.
German Martin Kaymer was the other player in the hunt. He required a top-four finish to be in with a shout of overhauling McIlroy and Westwood and, after a birdie on the long second, improved to joint 15th on two under.
Ian Poulter, who could move up to world number five by winning on Sunday, drove under a bush on the first - as did Fisher yesterday - and with a double-bogey six slumped to level par.
The race for Dubai
Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher are fighting it out for the European Tour number one prize at the season-ending Dubai World Championship this week.
With a first prize of £744,180 winning the tournament will also win the money list title for McIlroy, Westwood and Kaymer, but Fisher needs help from the others.
This is how it shapes up for all four:
RORY McILROY. 1st - £2,274,188
Will take the crown regardless of how he plays if Westwood is outside the top seven, Kaymer the top four and Fisher the top two.
LEE WESTWOOD. 2nd - £2,159,359
Cannot be stopped if he wins. If he is second he will be champion if McIlroy is not first or tied second and Kaymer does not win.
MARTIN KAYMER. 3rd - £2,089,718
Cannot be stopped if he wins. If he is second he will be champion if McIlroy and Westwood are not first or tied second and Fisher does not win.
ROSS FISHER. 4th - £1,885,904
Has to finish first or second just to have a chance. If he wins he will still be denied if McIlroy or Westwood finish second.
