A three putt and a bad drive costs Rory McIlroy as Tommy Fleetwood wins Dubai Invitational

Rory McIlroy started the final round of Dubai Invitational one shot behind Tommy Fleetwood. McIlroy played in today’s final group with Fleetwood and the Northern Irishman started with two good par saves. McIlroy’s drive at the short par four third hole ended up in the sand but played an incredible bunker shot and rolled in the birdie putt. The Northern Irishman failed to take advantage of the par five fourth at Dubai Creek but made his second birdie of Sunday’s round at the difficult par three fifth hole. The four-time major winner made a huge mistake as he put his tee shot at the sixth hole into the water which would result in a dropped shot. “A tee shot in the water with an iron on the front nine”, said McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman missed the fairway at the seventh hole but played a sensational chip shot and McIlroy achieved a par at both the eight & ninth hole to shoot a front nine of 34. McIlroy only found the short grass once on the front nine and this continued as he missed the fairway at the par five 10th hole. The four-time major winner missed the green but managed to escape the 10th with a disappointing par. “It was a bit back and forth. I went three behind after ten”, said McIlroy. Hitting driver off the tee at the 11th hole paid off for McIlroy as he hit a great wedge shot and made his first birdie on the back nine. “Then made three birdies in a row on 11, 12 and 13 to get back tied for the lead”, said McIlroy.

McIlroy hit an incredible tee shot at the 180 yard par three 14th which ended up three feet from the hole. It looked like that McIlroy would make four birdies in a row but walked away from the 14th with a bogey. “A little sloppy, a lack of concentration”, said Down native. McIlroy bounced back immediately as he hit a great second shot at the 15th hole and held his birdie putt to return to 18 under. The par threes at Dubai Creek are difficult but McIlroy set up another birdie opportunity after a great tee shot at 192 yard par three 16th hole. The four-time major winner was unsuccessful with his birdie effort at the 16th but gained a shot as Fleetwood dropped a shot at the same hole.

McIlroy missed the fairway at the 17th hole for a second day in a row but played a extraordinary shot from 109 yards. McIlroy rolled in his birdie putt and took a one shot lead to the 18th hole. McIlroy made a massive error as his tee shot at the 18th hole found the water. “I wanted to try to turn one over because it was the only way that I was going to be able to carry the bunker on the right”, said McIlroy.

McIlroy finished on 18 under after a bogey at the 18th hole. “I think for the first week back out, it was a really positive week”, said Down native. McIlroy finished in a tie for second and earned €200,000. McIlroy goes into next week’s Dubai Desert Classic as defending champion. “Just need to tidy up some of the edges, and if I do that, I feel good going into next week”, said McIlroy. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin was also in the field and finished in a tie for 25th on five under.