Tommy Fleetwood will reunite with Aaron Rai in the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship.
The duo have been paired together for the first two rounds of this week’s event.
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Fleetwood and Rai have been paired up at the DP World Tour ChampionshipCredit: GettyI’m top of a lot of stat lines! Tommy Fleetwood jokes about ending unwanted PGA Tour record
It comes just days after Rai’s play-off triumph over Fleetwood in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
His birdie on the opening play-off hole denied the world number four victory at Yas Links GC.
They had finished the event level on 25-under-par following four rounds in the United Arab Emirates.
Rai’s win also denied Fleetwood around £350,000 in prize money as he secured a first DP World Tour title for five years.
The Englishman’s previous win also saw him beat Fleetwood in a play-off at the 2020 Scottish Open.
They will now renew their rivalry on Thursday, with the pair given an 8am GMT tee time.
Fleetwood will be eyeing his first DP World Tour Championship having twice finished second at the event.
He previously won the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour back in August.
His victory at East Lake Golf Club was his first on the PGA Tour in his 164th event.
Fleetwood’s last event
Looking ahead to this week’s tournament, Fleetwood told reporters: “This is the last event I’m going to play this year. It has been a great year.
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Fleetwood has confirmed this weekend’s tournament will be his final event of the yearCredit: Getty
“So this will be an amazing way to finish, for sure. My whole family are here. Lots of familiar faces, a course that I know well, and I live very, very close.
“Again, it would be very special to be on the 18th green having won. I’ve probably had a couple of chances in this tournament over the years.
“I’d like to do a bit better than that. I’d like to present myself with a few more chances. I can clearly see that image in my head. I know it so well. We’ll strive for that and see what we can do.
“I think it’s turning into and already is quite an iconic course for us now on the Tour. Nice for me to be in my own bed again.”
As for his play-off loss to Rai, the 34-year-old added: “It was a great tournament, it really, really was. I think there were so many positives for me.
“Again, I feel like I played so well and played so consistently throughout the week. Gave myself chances coming down the stretch. I hit great putts coming down the stretch. Had a go. Another really, really good week.
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The world number four suffered a play-off defeat to Rai at the Abu Dhabi HSBC ChampionshipCredit: Getty
“Like I say, it’s easy to just feel that disappointment when you come so close. But Aaron was amazing. He totally deserves it.
“And for me, another week, all the positives and now one more week to go in the season now.”
This weekend will feature the biggest prize fund on the DP World Tour outside of the four major championships.
Players are competing for a share of £7.6million at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.


