Rory McIlroy received a “actually cool” file fourth Dubai Desert Traditional title on Sunday by one shot after storming again from a 10-shot deficit going into the weekend on the Emirates Golf Membership.
McIlroy made two large birdie putts in direction of the tip of the entrance 9 – a 31-footer on the par-4 eighth, adopted by a 16-footer on the ninth – to maneuver to 15-under par and lead by three pictures.
On the identical time his taking part in companion and in a single day chief American Cameron Younger struggled and made the flip at two-over with two bogeys.
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On the again 9, McIlroy made a bogey on the par-5 thirteenth and couldn’t add one other birdie, however that was sufficient for a profitable whole of 14-under par 274.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk as soon as once more confirmed his large expertise, and a last-hole birdie gave him a solo second place at 13-under par.
World No. 25 Younger, looking for his first win on elite excursions, completed third at 12-under par.
Along with his fourth title on the Emirates Golf Membership, the world No. 2 McIlroy surpassed South Africa’s Ernie Els and have become essentially the most profitable participant within the 35-year historical past of the championship.
“It’s actually cool,” stated McIlroy, who recorded his first win as an expert within the match in 2009.
“I didn’t take into consideration that (fourth win) through the spherical. It was a extremely tough day. It was laborious to get it shut and make a ton of birdies.
“The pivotal level for me got here on the eighth and ninth holes. Making two threes there, that form of set me as much as attempt to management it on the best way in.
He stated after “that one blunder on 13” he “steadied the ship effectively over the previous few holes”.
“It was a type of days the place there wasn’t a ton of fireworks simply because the course was so tough, however I held on as finest as I might and fortunately, nobody across the high of the leaderboard made a lot of a run.”
Chile’s LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann made essentially the most of his restricted begins on the European tour, ending tied fourth at 10-under alongside Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Canada’s Aaron Cockerill.
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The 34-year-old Northern Irishman stated the win will set him up completely for the Masters in April, the one main championship that has eluded him thus far.
“I feel so. Look, Augusta remains to be a good distance away in {golfing} phrases. Rather a lot can change within the two-and-a-half months,” stated McIlroy, who missed the reduce at Augusta Nationwide in 2023.
“It’s at all times good to get a win. It’s at all times good to really feel such as you’re taking part in effectively going into it. I’ve at all times stated that I’ll take execution over preparation each single time since you simply should execute the golf pictures, particularly there.
“Final 12 months at Augusta, I learnt lots about myself. I’ve informed this story earlier than in regards to the first inexperienced on Friday, and Brooks (Koepka) was on the eighth inexperienced and I noticed the large leaderboard, and I used to be already 10 behind at that time.
“I used to be 10 behind after two days this week and ended up profitable the golf match. I really feel like I’ve taken that studying already and put it into practise slightly bit already.” The DP World Tour strikes subsequent to the northern emirates of the UAE for the Ras Al Khaimah Traditional.
McIlroy will play the AT&T Pebble Seaside ProAm on the PGA Tour within the first week of February.