DP WORLD TOUR
McIlroy Makes History In Dubai
Rory McIlroy enjoyed a historic record-breaking fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic, successfully defending his title in a thrilling finale at Emirates Golf Club. The 34-year-old from Northern Ireland entered the weekend trailing by ten shots. However, a remarkable third-round 9-under 63 propelled him into the final group on Sunday.
McIlroy started out on Sunday two shots behind American Cameron Young. The world No. 2 covered the front nine with three unanswered birdies and moved in front of chasing competitors Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Young by four shots with six holes to play. McIlroy faced a moment of uncertainty with a bogey on the 13th, giving Meronk and Young a chance to close in. However, the Ulsterman held his nerve closing out the event with five straight pars to secure a narrow one-shot victory with a final round of 2-under 70, finishing at 14 under par. Meronk put up a spirited fight carding a 1-under 71 to reach 13-under and claim solo second place.
American Young finished at 12 under par with a final round 2-over 74. Canadian Aaron Cockerill, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal, and Chilean Joaquin Niemann finished two shots further back at 10-under and in a tie for fourth place.
McIlroy's triumph surpassed Ernie Els' hat-trick of Desert Classic victories and is his sixth win in Dubai adding two victories at the DP World Tour Championship. The four-time major winner also becomes just the second player on the DP World Tour to successfully defend this title since Stephen Gallacher hoisted the Dallah Trophy in 2013 and 2014.
McIlroy's strong start to the season, which includes a runner up effort last week, positions him as a formidable contender in his search for a sixth Race to Dubai crown.
Australia’s Adam Scott finished five shots off the lead at 9-under and in a tie for 7th place with Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard, Japan's Masahiro Kawamura and China's Haotong Li. The veteran Queenslander produced a final round 3-under 69.
Final Scores
1. Rory McIlroy -14
2. Adrian Meronk -13
3. Cameron Young -12
T4. Aaron Cockerill -10
T4. Pablo Larrazabal -10
T4. Joaquin Niemann -10
Australians
T7. Adam Scott -9
MC. Jason Scrivener
Image Credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
