“Sloppy mistakes” cost McIlroy Dubai Invitational
Tommy Fleetwood of England poses with the trophy after winning the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club on January 14, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy insisted on looking at the positives after combining some sensational play with a series of “sloppy mistakes” to lose the Dubai Invitational to Tommy Fleetwood.
One behind Fleetwood (32) overnight, the world number two found water from the tee at the sixth to slip two back, then fell three behind when the Englishman birdied the 10th at Dubai Creek.
But while he sensationally drew level with three birdies in a row from the 11th, McIlroy paid for two big mistakes coming home and lost out to Fleetwood’s spectacular birdie-birdie finish.
“I think for the first week back out, it was a really positive week,” said McIlroy, who looked set to move clear at the par-three 14th but three-putted from just two feet.
He showed his undoubted class with birdies at the 15th and 17th to take a one-shot lead down the last, only to pull his tee shot into a lake and watch Fleetwood follow his unlikely 32-footer for birdie at the 17th with a closing 16-footer for his first win since the 2022 Nedbank Invitational.
“Looking back on today, you know, a tee shot in the water with an iron on the front nine, had that three-putt from three feet on the par-three, and then the water ball on the last,” McIlroy said after matching Fleetwood’s four-under 67 to finish a shot behind, tied second with South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who shot 64, on 18-under.
“So you know, I think first week back out, I think you're going to expect some of those sloppy mistakes, and unfortunately for me, those mistakes came at the wrong time today.
“But you know, I'll reflect on it and learn from today, and there's still a lot of good stuff in there. But just need to tidy up some of the edges, and if I do that, I feel good going into next week.”
McIlroy will defend his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title this week and while he was never quite 100 pc comfortable with his game, he’s hoping to clean up the mistakes and win that title for the fourth time this week.
“Just a bad swing at the end there,” he said. “And then just a little sloppy, a lack of concentration with the tee shot on six in the water, and then the same thing with the putt on 14 as well. Just a couple little mental errors in there that hopefully I'll clean up for next week.”
McIlroy was pleased for his Ryder Cup team mate Fleetwood, who has endured a frustrating run since winning the Nedbank Challenge 14 months ago.
“It was a great day,” McIlroy said. “It was a bit back and forth. I went three behind after ten, and then made three birdies in a row on 11, 12 and 13 to get back tied for the lead.
“And then yeah, look, I'm really happy for Tommy. He's played some incredible golf over the last year without actually getting a win.
“So for him to get the win here, it's great for him and it will do his confidence a world of good, and hopefully he kicks on from it.”
Fleetwood was pleased to get over the line and finally hole some putts at the right time,
“Yeah, it was great,” he said. “I was very happy with the way I played today for the large majority of the round, felt like I didn't hole some of the putts that I wanted to.
“I think it was great watching one of the world's best golfers in Rory, the way that he was playing the back nine, the way that he attacked the back nine.”
He added: “I was playing very well. I was hitting it very solid. I looked distinctly average compared to the way Rory started playing on that back nine.”
The Dubai-based Englishman was pleased he made the decision to dash back to the UAE after playing The Sentry at Kapalua in Hawaii last week.
“Like almost everybody else in the world of golf, I don't win anywhere near as much as you would like to but just that winning feeling is great,” Fleetwood said.
“So happy I came back. This is obviously where I live and have a lot of support. It's great to kick off the year with a great result and push on from here.”
Tom McKibbin closed with a one-over 72 to tie for 23rd on five-under and now joins McIlroy and Padraig Harrington at the Emirates Golf Club for the Dubai Desert Classic.
On the PGA TOUR, Seamus Power shot a one-under 69 to go into last night’s final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii tied for 64th on three-under.
American Keegan Bradley shot 63 and Grayson Murray a 64 to lead by a shot from Sam Stevens on 14-under at Waialae Country Club.
