Tommy Fleetwood birdied the 17th and 18th to wrest the lead again from Rory McIlroy and declare victory on the Dubai Invitational; McIlroy took the solo lead on the 15th however his tee shot discovered the water on the 18th and a bogey noticed him drop a shot on the final minute.
Of Megan Wellens
12:42 UK Sunday 14 January 2024
Tommy Fleetwood made a high-pressure birdie putt on the 18th gap to grab victory from Rory McIlroy on the Dubai Invitational.
McIlroy headed into the ultimate gap with a one-shot lead after 5 birdies on the again 9 noticed the momentum swing in his favor.
Nevertheless, his tee shot on the ultimate gap discovered the water and, whereas settling for a bogey, Fleetwood sank an unbelievable 16-foot birdie putt to clinch victory in Dubai.
It was a sensational spherical once more from Fleetwood, with 5 birdies and a bogey to seal a 67, the spotlight approaching the 10th when an unbelievable bunker shot set him up properly for his third birdie.
Thriston Lawrence additionally had a day to recollect as he completed tied for second alongside McIlroy, seven birdies and an unbeaten spherical cementing his place.
“It was nice. I believe I used to be actually pleased with the best way I performed immediately for the overwhelming majority of the spherical,” Fleetwood mentioned.
“I did not gap a few of the putts I wished to and it was nice watching among the best golfers on this planet in Rory, watching the best way he attacked the again 9.
“It was simply up and down in the direction of the tip. Sloppy bogey on 16. However birdie, birdie on 17 and 18.
“I used to be enjoying very effectively, I used to be hitting very solidly. I felt very in charge of my sport and it was only a case of endurance.
“It is superb to win. Clearly, I do not earn as a lot as I would really like.
“I stay right here and have a variety of help and it is nice to start out the yr with a very good end result and go on from right here.”
Fleetwood held the lead for many of the last spherical as McIlroy had an up-and-down day, an opportunity to take the solo lead going begging on the 14th when a birdie likelihood changed into -a three-putt and bogey for the Northern Irishman.
McIlroy confirmed his class and recovered on the 15th to take the solo lead with a birdie and whereas Fleetwood faltered with a bogey on the 16th, it regarded like he would be capable to win.
Nevertheless, Fleetwood’s birdies on the 17th and 18th have been met with a birdie and a bogey for McIlroy, who noticed the lead change with the ultimate shot because the Englishman gained.
McIlroy was happy together with his sport however admitted some “sloppy errors” value him at opportune moments.
“For the primary week again it was a very constructive week,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I look again on immediately — I had a tee shot within the water on the entrance 9, I had the three-putt, then the water ball on the final.
“Within the first week, I believe you must anticipate a few of these sloppy errors. Sadly for me, a few of these errors got here on the unsuitable time.
“I will mirror on it and be taught from immediately and there is nonetheless a variety of good things in there, I simply must tidy up a few of the edges.”
England’s Jordan Smith completed fourth at 16 underneath, whereas Staff Europe’s Francesco Molinari had a spherical to recollect as he completed at 15 underneath and carded a 63.
Regardless of a bogey on the par-three 14th, Molinari discovered 9 birdies, seven within the first 11 holes, ending with three in a row to complete fifth.
Watch McIlroy in motion stay all through 2024 on Sky Sports activities. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and extra NOW.