Rory McIlroy claims record fourth Dubai Desert Classic victory and first DP World Tour win of season

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Rory McIlroy efficiently defended his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title and secured a record fourth victory on the occasion after finishing a formidable one-shot win.

McIlroy was 10 strokes off the midway lead earlier than charging into rivalry with a third-round 63 at Emirates Golf Club, taking him inside two photographs of Cameron Young, then pulled clear of the sector throughout a formidable final-round show.

The world No 2 moved right into a share of the lead contained in the opening 4 holes and grabbed the solo benefit on the sixth after errors from each Young and Adrian Meronk, with back-to-back birdies from the eighth seeing McIlroy attain the flip with a three-stroke cushion.

McIlroy noticed his benefit lower from 4 to 1 when Meronk posted back-to-back birdies on the again 9, though the four-time main champion carded a two-under 70 to carry off the chasing pack and declare a first win of the yr.

Dubai delight for McIlroy

McIlroy produced a sensational tee shot on the par-four second, driving the inexperienced and two-putting from 30 toes for birdie, whereas Meronk additionally moved inside one of Young by taking benefit of the par-five third.

Young missed the prospect to double his benefit from inside 4 toes on the fourth then bogeyed the sixth after seeing his tee shot cease subsequent to a tree stump, as McIlroy obtained up and down from the sand to avoid wasting par to briefly make it a three-way tie on the prime.

Meronk discovered the water on his method to double-bogeying the seventh and Young missed a shot on the identical par-three, as McIlroy produced a sensational save from the again of the seventh inexperienced to take a one-shot lead.

McIlroy responded to a median method into the par-four subsequent by nailing a giant breaking putt from 30 toes and added one other birdie on the ninth to succeed in the flip in 33, though did not take benefit of the par-five tenth to permit Young to maneuver again inside two with a birdie.

Young bogeyed his subsequent two holes to briefly transfer McIlroy 4 clear, just for the Northern Irishman to present hope for the sector when he sprayed his tee shot into timber on the thirteenth on his method to a bogey-six.

Meronk responded by posting back-to-back birdies from the thirteenth to get inside one however then misplaced floor with a bogey on the sixteenth after driving into some thick tough, as McIlroy went on a run of two-putt pars to revive management of the event.

Young saved his slim hopes alive when he transformed from 25 toes on the sixteenth to affix Meronk in tied-second however bogeyed the following, permitting McIlroy to take a two-shot benefit to the par-five final.

McIlroy discovered the tough on the again left of the inexperienced together with his second shot and pitched nicely to 10 toes, then two-putted for the par required to complete a shot clear of Meronk and declare a first win of 2024.

A one-under 71 noticed Meronk – the DP World Tour Player of the Year – declare second forward of Young, who birdied the final to shut a final-round 74, whereas Joaquin Niemann shared fourth with Aaron Cockerill and Pablo Larrazabal.

Haotong Li, Nicolai Hojgaard, Masahiro Kawamura and Adam Scott rounded off the highest 10, as Tommy Fleetwood – who pipped McIlroy to Dubai Invitational victory final week – resulted in tied-14th.

‘Great begin to the season’ for McIlroy

McIlroy’s victory follows his runner-up end on the Dubai Invitational final Sunday, with the reigning Race to Dubai champion assured of constructing on his quick begin to 2024 over the approaching months.

“It’s a great start to the season,” McIlroy stated after his victory. “I began nicely final yr right here with the win right here however it was a little bit extra dramatic on the final inexperienced in comparison with immediately.

“It’s a great platform to build from. I know I’m playing good golf and there are still a couple of misses, off the tee left – one got me on 18 last week and I missed one today on the 13th and one on 16 as well which nearly cost me as well.

“A pair little issues to work on however these weeks are nice and you study a tonne from them. Then it is nice to have the competitors and come out on prime as nicely.”

What’s subsequent?

The DP World Tour stays within the Middle East for the Ras al Khaimah Championship, the place Daniel Gavins returns as defending champion. Live protection begins on Thursday from 8am on Sky Sports Golf.

Rory McIlroy is subsequent in motion on the PGA Tour on the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 1-4, dwell on Sky Sports. Stream golf and extra prime sport with NOW.