Rory McIlroy levels unimaginable comeback to win Dubai Desert Classic

Same metropolis, totally different final result, acquainted springs of optimism. One week after drowning his hopes of a Dubai title on the ultimate gap, Rory McIlroy corrected the blip and added additional polish to his early-season type by retaining his crown on the Desert Classic.

His closing spherical of 70 was ample for a one-stroke win over Adrian Meronk, however these numbers say nothing of the immense comeback with which the world No 2 constructed this victory.

After 36 holes, he had sat 10 pictures off the lead, however a blistering 63 on Saturday and a steadier thoughts than his rivals by means of the ultimate loop secured him the match for a report fourth time. For McIlroy’s bother, he was reacquainted with certainly one of sport’s extra distinctive trophies – a large Arabian espresso pot.

Of equal worth would be the momentum achieved from a profitable journey to the Middle East. McIlroy was second in his first occasion of 2024, the Dubai Invitational, the place he gave up lead on the 72nd gap to Tommy Fleetwood, and that was bettered on the Emirates Golf Club.

Given he’s embarking on a tenth season since his final main, lest we ever neglect the baffling nature of that drought, it’s an encouraging present of velocity from the blocks.

Rory McIlroy received the Dubai Desert Classic for the fourth time as he beat Cameron Young

The Northern Irishman began the ultimate spherical two pictures behind Young 

‘It is a great start to the season,’ mentioned McIlroy, who will now return to the PGA Tour from this swing on the DP World Tour to organize for the Masters in April.

‘It is a great platform to build from. I am playing great golf. There are still a couple of misses, a few drives off the tee to the left. So there are a couple of things to work on.’

McIlroy, who had shot 71-70-63 to start out the fourth spherical two behind strokes American Cameron Young, and stage with Meronk, did the majority of his charging on the outward 9 of the closing day. 

While Young and Meronk had every dropped a pair pictures in hitting the flip in 37, McIlroy motored to a 32 and a three-shot lead, constructed on birdie putts of 32ft and 16ft on the eighth and ninth.

His driver turned slightly free on the way in which in, because it had per week earlier, and that noticed him yank one left at 13 – his solely second of heightened nervousness all day. Playing his second from scrubland on the par 5, he once more failed to search out any grass, however the harm was restricted to a six – his solely dropped shot of the spherical.

Young began the day with a two-stroke lead however ended up falling behind McIlroy

Adrian Meronk was additionally in rivalry however McIlroy managed to safe glory

Young, his enjoying accomplice, did not make up any floor and closed with a 74 for a 12-under-par complete in blustery circumstances, however by then the clubhouse lead had been set at 13 below by Meronk’s 71. Only a McIlroy implosion on the final may alter the order, however navigated the lakes on 18 with a conservative and a superb win on 14 below.

Fleetwood tied for 14th on six below and can face an attention-grabbing couple of weeks amid robust curiosity from the LIV circuit forward of their season-opener in February. 

He has already knocked them again, however the Saudis stay eager on the Englishman. Ditto Tyrrell Hatton, who was tied for thirty first in Dubai and has had conversations with the circuit. Ominously, he has refused to say something which may discourage an extra method.