Three putts from 2ft and a tee shot guided into water at the last, no big surprise it was a remorseful Rory McIlroy who ventured from the eighteenth green at Dubai Stream, his expectations of triumph in his initial beginning of 2024 scattered by expensive blunders. To Tommy Fleetwood, the riches at the debut Dubai Invitational.
A last round duel among Fleetwood and McIlroy, Ryder Cup colleagues, was never prone to frustrate. Fleetwood had taken the early drive before McIlroy brought off three birdies in succession from the eleventh. On the standard three fourteenth, an iron played to tap in range gave McIlroy a magnificent chance to move forward. All things being equal, he three-putted to discernible pants from the exhibitions. “I pushed the primary putt then I was preparing for that push with the one returning and hit it left,” he later made sense of. “It was a terrible succession of occasions.”
The Northern Irishman answered consistent with style with birdies at the fifteenth and seventeenth. The inability to track down dry land at the eighteenth, however, set this competition back into Fleetwood’s hands. The British chap changed over from 16ft for a 67, 19 under standard aggregate and one stroke prevail upon McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence. A bizarre McIlroy week saw him arrive at 18 under regardless of a fourfold intruder during cycle two.
“I committed a few senseless errors, as would be considered normal in my most memorable competition back out sooner or later,” said McIlroy, who last played seriously in November. “On the off chance that I can tidy that up, I feel like the remainder of the game is not too far off.” McIlroy has a quick opportunity to make amends; he guards the Dubai Desert Exemplary from Thursday.
For Fleetwood, this was a first triumph since late 2022. He has cause to get additional fulfillment from its way. “It’s in every case extremely extraordinary when you play with one of your companions, quite possibly of the best player on the planet,” the 32-year-old said. “Testing yourself against those folks … Rory has been an extremely, strong effect on me since we’ve been close. I’ve watched him do astonishing things down the stretch in golf competitions and today was my turn.
“Being out there with him, someone you’re OK with and someone that you can truly endeavor to accomplish half of what he’s finished in his profession is perfect. That is the very thing we believe should do as players, play against the best players on the planet and perceive how your game holds up.” Everything looks OK.