MARLOW golfer Tyrrell Hatton shot a -1 round of 71 on the first day of the final event of the 2016 European Tour season, the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Estates in Dubai.

Hatton, currently fifth on the Race to Dubai rankings, made three birdies and two bogeys, which has him currently tied 24th after the opening round, five shots behind leader Lee Westwood.

60 golfers are vying for victory as the winner of this event will pocket a cool $8m.

In terms of the Race to Dubai and the bid to be Europe's leading golfer for the season, Hatton hasn't accrued enough points to be in with a shout of winning the Harry Vardon Trophy but there is no doubt that he has had a brilliant season.

His first win as a professional came at the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month and over the course of the past year, his profile has risen so much that there were murmurings of a potential wild card pick for the Ryder Cup.

Now, with just this event left, Hatton sits 33rd in the world. This should be good enough to see him make his Masters debut at Augusta next April and at the tender age of 25, he will have plenty more chances to be the European Tour's leading golfer.

This year's Race to Dubai winner will be between the 2016 Masters winner, Danny Willett, the 2016 Open Champion, Henrik Stenson as well as four time tour winner this year, Alex Noren, and Rory Mcilroy, with the victor crowned this Sunday.