Rory McIlroy gained the Dubai Desert Traditional for a report fourth time after reeling in Cameron Younger early within the ultimate spherical then holding off Adrian Meronk down the again 9 to seal a one-stroke victory on Sunday.
McIlroy closed with a 2-under 70 to retain the title at a event he has now gained greater than some other occasion in his profession. Amongst his 38 wins as an expert, he had additionally gained the Tour Championship and Wells Fargo Championship thrice.
Younger began Day 4 with a two-stroke lead however was trailing McIlroy — his enjoying accomplice within the ultimate group — after making bogey at No. 6 for his second dropped shot of the spherical.
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McIlroy opened up a lead of three photographs by the flip after birdies at Nos. 8 and 9 however got here beneath stress from Meronk, who made 4 birdies on his again 9.
The world No. 2 walked down No. 18 main by one shot — identical to ultimately week’s Dubai Invitational, when he was overwhelmed by Tommy Fleetwood — however this time he didn’t lose it as he closed with a par for 14-under par total.
“It was a kind of days the place there wasn’t a ton of fireworks simply because the course was so troublesome,” stated McIlroy, who made eight pars and a bogey on his again 9. “However I held on as greatest as I might and fortunately nobody across the prime of the leaderboard made a lot of a run.”
Meronk (71), just lately topped because the European tour’s participant of the yr for 2023, was alone in second place and Younger, enjoying in Dubai for the primary time, was third after taking pictures 74.
McIlroy broke a tie with South African nice Ernie Els, who had additionally gained the Dubai Desert Traditional thrice, and has began 2024 with a second and first.
“It’s an ideal platform to construct from,” he stated. “I do know I’m enjoying good golf.
“A pair little issues nonetheless to work on,” McIlroy added, “however these weeks are nice. You study a ton from them, and clearly nice to get the competitors and are available out on prime as nicely.”