Stenson content despite his late loss of focus in Dubai

Canizares completed a six-under-par 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates to lead by one from Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Australia’s Marcus Fraser, with Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson a shot further back alongside Jamie Donaldson and Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Stenson admitted he lost focus to three-putt the 18th for his only bogey of the day, but did enough to suggest his nearest challengers for the money list title will be hard pressed to overhaul him despite his battle with a wrist injury.

Playing partner Justin Rose, who needs to finish fifth or better, carded a two-under-par 70, while third-placed Graeme McDowell returned a 72 and fourth-placed Ian Poulter a 69.

“It has been a lot of hard work all season and I just let my focus slip on the last,” said Stenson, who is looking to become the first player to win the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same year.

“That sucks, but I am still in good shape and playing nicely. The guys are running on fumes so everybody is looking forward to getting done.

“You can’t win a tournament on Thursday, but you can certainly play your way out of it. I would have taken four under at the start of the day so I just have to let the disappointment of the last slip away.”

Ryder Cup star Poulter carded four birdies and one bogey in his opening 69, but was frustrated at missing a number of chances to be higher up the leaderboard.

US Open champion Rose revealed he is suffering from an inflamed shoulder that required an MRI scan recently.

But the 33-year-old is happy to have control of his destiny. Victory this week would give him a second money list title – he won it in 2007 – regardless of other results.

Hull’s Richard Finch needs a round in the mid-60s today in Spain if he is to win back playing rights on the European Tour.

The 36-year-old shot a 75 yesterday at PGA Catalunya in the fifth round of six at the Tour’s qualifying school.

It leaves him on four under par and in a tie for 52nd, four shots adrift of the top 25 who will all earn a card for next season. Finch had begun the day in a strong position as he attempts to end a poor year on a high.

But a double-bogey on the 10th and dropped shots on the second and 18th cost him dear.

Worryingly his scores have been getting progressively worse throughout the week.

Finch, who won twice on Tour in 2008, opened with a round of 64 on Sunday and was second overall, but has broken par only once since.