Rory McIlroy’s epic last spherical collapse has helped hand Tommy Fleetwood a one-stroke victory within the inaugural Dubai Invitational.
Fleetwood drained a 16 foot birdie putt on the ultimate gap to win the match, protecting his composure all spherical to choose up his seventh title on the DP World Tour.
Nonetheless, the story of the day was McIlroy, who kind of handed victory to Fleetwood on a silver platter with two pricey un-Rory like blunders.
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With each gamers locked at 18 underneath on the 14th gap, McIlroy had a two-foot likelihood for birdie to go one shot up on Fleetwood.
Sadly for McIlroy, he would sensationally three putt to drop a shot.
McIlroy would hit again with birdies on 15 and 17, whereas Fleetwood would bogey 16, that means the Northern Irishman had a one-stroke lead heading onto the ultimate gap and in pole place to win the season-opening occasion of the DP World Tour.
The world quantity two created extra drama when hitting his tee shot on the final into the water, opening the door proper up for Fleetwood, who capitalised with a clutch putt to win his tenth skilled title.
Fleetwood completed the match with a rating of 19 underneath, whereas McIlroy’s birdie dropped him again to 18 underneath.
McIlroy didn’t seem too deterred together with his last spherical collapse, as a substitute praising his good mate Fleetwood for his win.
“I’m actually joyful for Tommy. He’s performed some unimaginable golf over the past yr with out really getting a win. So for him to get the win right here, it’s nice for him and it’ll do his confidence and world of fine, and hopefully he kicks on from it,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I believe the primary week again out, I believe you’re going to count on a few of these sloppy errors, and sadly for me, these errors got here on the improper time at the moment.
Fleetwood victorious after Rory blunders | 02:10
“However you understand, I’ll mirror on it and be taught from at the moment, and there’s nonetheless quite a lot of great things in there.”
Fleetwood, who relies in Dubai, collected a cool $635,550 (AUD) for the win.
“It was superb successful,” Fleetwood mentioned.
“Like nearly everyone else on the earth of golf, I don’t win anyplace close to as a lot as I wish to however simply that successful feeling nice.
“That is clearly the place I reside and have quite a lot of help. It’s nice to kick off the yr with a fantastic consequence and push on from right here.”