Rory McIlroy hailed LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton as “a massive asset” to Europe’s Ryder Cup team and urged him to never change his fiery temper after the English star’s one-shot win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic sent him to the top of the qualifying charts.

Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin mounted final-round challenges but couldn't stop LIV Golf's Tyrrell Hatton from claiming his fifth Rolex Series win with a one-shot victory in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy struggled with a cold putter but believes he can still win a record fifth Hero Dubai Desert Classic and his third in a row.

Rory McIlroy was pleased not play his way out of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after chiselling out a 70 that left him tied with LIV target Tom McKibbin and veteran Padraig Harrington.

Rory McIlroy has urged Tom McKibbin to “make a different choice” and turn down the chance to go to LIV Golf for what's believed to be in the region of $8 million.

Padraig Harrington has questioned Tom McKibbin’s expected move to LIV Golf and insists the Holywood star would be “better off learning to compete and win more in Europe”.

Tom McKibbin performed like a veteran as he partnered Tyrrell Hatton to a fourball win over Antoine Rozner and Julien Guerrier and helped Great Britain take a 3.5-1.5 lead over Continental Europe in the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi.

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is unfazed by talk of Tom McKibbin’s potential move to LIV Golf and hopes the Holywood star can impress him in this week’s Team Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Tom McKibbin has been named Men’s Professional of the Year by the Irish Golf Writers’ Association for the second year running.

Rory McIlroy has won the AGW Golf Writers Trophy for an unprecedented fifth time.

Tom McKibbin shot a second successive over-par rounds for the first time since September to find himself 13 shots off the pace in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.