Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox is adopting a "nothing to lose" approach before the European Tour finale, which could see him win the title and move atop the rankings at Dubai.
Fox needs to finish ahead of world No.1 Rory McIlroy at the DP World Tour Championship to clinch the order of merit and £2.5 million (N$4.8 million).
After his recent second-place finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, Fox made some much-needed ground on McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman leads the tour having played just nine events to Fox's 23, and is favourite to close out the season with a victory.
But Fox is refusing to let the occasion overwhelm him, and won't be changing his approach at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.
"A bit surreal to be honest. If you had said this at the start of the year, I probably wouldn't have believed you," he said.
"It's been an amazing season, and hopefully I can finish it off this week, but regardless of what happens, I'm really proud of what I've done this year and it's been a fun ride.
"The goal going into last week was definitely to cut the gap and I couldn't have wished for a better week in that sense, especially around a golf course I haven't done very well.
"I'm not trying to think about it too much. Rory is the best player in the world, he's obviously the favourite, but to be in this position is great.
"I've got nothing to lose this week, so won't do anything different to what I've been doing all year - just go out there and try to beat the golf course and see what happens.
"That has served me pretty well and hopefully I can do the same thing this week.
"I couldn't be more proud of what's happened this year, and the goal at the start of the year was just to get another win under the belt.
"I guess the goal from probably the last five, six years on tour was to try and get in the top 50 and I've cemented my place in there now for a little while.
"To be in this position this week, and to have a chance to win the order of merit is amazing and I've got nothing to lose in that respect.
"Go out there, give it a crack and see what happens - it's a nice place to be.
Fox's head-to-head battle with Mcllroy will be made even more special by being the first time the two will have played together.
The Kiwi admits he's a big fan of Mcllroy on and off of the golf course, but will treat him as any other opponent - and hopes any All Blacks chat is kept to a minimum.
"I'm looking forward to it - obviously he is the best player in the world. To play with the No.1 is always special," Fox said.
"I've heard from plenty of guys on tour, he's a great guy and just hope he doesn't bring up the rugby too much in the first couple of holes.
"There are definitely nerves. I'm assuming we will have a pretty big crowd out there which will be nice, but that is what you play golf for, you want to be in those big groups.
"I've earned the right to be there, and I'll try and enjoy it for as much as I can and hopefully continue the good form.
"I've obviously played in a few decent groups and been in contention a lot this year and handled that pretty well this year, so hopefully nothing changes in that respect on Thursday."
