Just two players remain in the hunt to become Europe’s number one at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

There were five in the race at the start of the Nedbank Golf Challenge but after Li Haotong, Lucas Bjerregaard and Rory McIlroy did not get the results they needed, only Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood remain in contention for the Harry Vardon Trophy.

Here, we take a look at what the great friends and Ryder Cup team-mates need to do at Jumeirah Golf Estates to become top dog for 2018:

Francesco Molinari

What a year it has been for the Italian. After claiming his first Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship he went on to win a maiden Major at The Open Championship. Add that victory to another Rolex Series top ten and two top 25s in World Golf Championships events and he has a lead of 1,025,166 points at the top of the Rankings. A finish of tied fifth with one other or better will guarantee the crown for Molinari but he may not need that depending on how Fleetwood does.

Tommy Fleetwood 

The reigning champion has enjoyed a spectacular defence whether he is successful in overhauling Molinari or not. A successful defence of his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA title got 2018 off to a flying start and he fired a history-making 63 in the final round en route to finishing second at the US Open Championship. Four consecutive top tens have edged him closer to Molinari in recent weeks but nothing but a win in Dubai (and Molinari finishing outside of the top five) will see him retain his crown.

Credit: European Tour