Fisher's family get call-up after he levels record

Published Nov. 26, 2010 2:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

Ross Fisher's extended family was lounging by the hotel pool Friday when the English player equaled the Dubai World Championship course record in the desert heat.

It may be the last chance his wife, daughter, in-laws and various other family members get to sunbathe.

Fisher has called them up for support Saturday after a charge up the leaderboard at the season-ending event.

''It's a real family affair,'' he said after his round on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course. ''It's just a nice, nice week. They can all come away from the cold of England and get some sunshine and just relax.''

His family has yet to make the trek out to the desert scrubland on the outskirts of Dubai a few miles (kilometers) away from the cool coast breezes. ''After this round, they might come up and wander around in the heat on the weekend.''

Going into the final two rounds, Fisher is 9 under after his 8-under 64.

The 30-year-old Englishman sunk his eighth birdie on the 18th, taking advantage of less demanding course conditions with easier pin settings than the first day when wind blew sand over the course.

''I wasn't actually sure what the course record was, it would have been disappointing not to birdie the last,'' he said.

The record is only 12 months old and was set last year by fellow Englishman and No. 1-ranked Lee Westwood, who finished just one shot behind Fisher on 8 under. England's Ian Poulter shares the lead with Fisher.

Last year Fisher arrived in Dubai with a strong chance of clinching the Race to Dubai title of biggest money earner, setting out in fourth but failing to win. This year he arrived in 14th with no chance of winning the crown and says he's more relaxed.

''I had a chance to win last year, albeit it was going to be very difficult, whereas this year, obviously 14th going in, that's been a slightly disappointing year,'' he said. ''Maybe coming in with less expectations and trying to enjoy the week as it's my penultimate week competitively of the year and it seems to be working so far.''

The 2010 season has been a disappointing one for Fisher, punctuated by a last-day 75 in the WGC Champions tournament in Shanghai when he appeared set for a top-three finish after three days.

An eventful personal life, including the birth of a baby daughter and buying a house in the United States, had compensated for a lack of golfing success, but he said he had no plans to play on the U.S. Tour.

''That's part and parcel of golf, Shanghai was disappointing,'' he said. ''But it was nice to know that I was getting on a flight to go home and see my wife and my baby girl.

''Golf is now not my be all and end all; it's my job and my living but there's more to life than playing golf.''

Winning in Dubai would turn an average year into another good one and project him higher in the world rankings.

''So a win here would certainly cap off what's been a below-par season to being all of a sudden a pretty good season.''