Tommy Fleetwood wins in Dubai as Rory McIlroy falters on No. 18

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tommy Fleetwood benefited from two large errors on the again 9 from Rory McIlroy and produced his personal sturdy end to win the Dubai Invitational following a back-and-forth final-round duel on Sunday.

McIlroy had already three-putted from 2 ft at No. 14 by the point he reached the 18th tee with a 1-shot lead over Fleetwood and pulled his drive into the water.

Fleetwood adopted that by driving into the center of the golf green and despatched his method to 16 ft, properly inside McIlroy after the world No. 2 needed to take a drop.

McIlroy missed his winding putt up the hill and Fleetwood made his to shoot 67 for 19-under 265 total, securing his first win for the reason that Nedbank Golf Problem in November 2022.

He was a stroke away from McIlroy (67), who tied for second place with Thriston Lawrence (64) within the first European tour occasion of 2024.

“First week again out, I believe you are going to anticipate a few of these sloppy errors,” McIlroy stated. “Sadly for me, these errors got here on the flawed time at the moment.”

McIlroy smiled and gave Fleetwood a giant hug on the 18th inexperienced after lacking out on a primary victory for the reason that Scottish Open in July. They’re shut associates and had been taking part in companions on the Ryder Cup final 12 months.

McIlroy, the world No. 2, began the day a stroke again from Fleetwood, was three behind after the tenth gap however 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch — both facet of that unfathomable three-putt on the par-3 14th — put him in a tie with Fleetwood.

After a sloppy bogey at No. 16, Fleetwood holed a birdie putt from 30 ft on the seventeenth to remain inside one shot of McIlroy after which capitalized on his taking part in companion’s worst swing of the day on the 18th tee.

“It was nice watching one of many world’s greatest golfers in Rory, the best way that he was taking part in the again 9, the best way that he attacked the again 9,” Fleetwood stated. “And yeah, simply up-and-down in direction of the tip, actually.

“I am very blissful,” he added. “It’s superb profitable. Like nearly everyone else on the earth of golf, I do not win anyplace close to as a lot as I wish to, however simply that profitable feeling is nice.”