Lee Westwood has been crowned European No 1 for the third time in his career after a second-placed finish at the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday secured the Race to Dubai.
The Englishman, Order of Merit champion in 2000 and 2009, carded a final-day 68 around Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish the tournament on 14-under par, one back from eventual winner Matthew Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick took the tournament title for the second time.
Coming into the week fourth in the seasonal standings, Westwood began his final round one shot back from the three-way tie at the top, a group that included Fitzpatrick and Race frontrunner Patrick Reed.
However, Reed managed only to post a two-under-par 70 to finish tied-third with Viktor Hovland. Seeking to become the first American to capture the Order of Merit, Reed ultimately ranked third on the Race to Dubai, with Fitzpatrick second.
Westwood, who began the season with victory in Abu Dhabi, claimed the Harry Vardon Trophy 20 years after first lifting it – the longest gap between first and most recent Money List wins. After birdieing two of the final three holes, the nine-time Ryder Cup star had an anxious wait while the groups in front finished their rounds.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, led the Tour Championship from the front all day, carding a 68 to seal the title on 15-under. The Englishman won the tournament in 2016. With his victory, he takes the first prize of $3 million.
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
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