Rory McIlroy's putter let him down at a key moment at the Dubai Invitational. Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy hit a three-putt from two feet and then sent the ball into the water in a dramatic finale at the Dubai Invitational.
The world number two was the epitome of graciousness as he congratulated Tommy Fleetwood. McIlroy hugged his Ryder Cup partner on the 18th green before noting that this title had been a long time coming for the Englishman. However, regardless of his affection for his opponent — or the fact that Fleetwood made excellent use of his chance with birdies on the last two holes — believe me, McIlroy will be hurt.
McIlroy showed the kind of character to bounce back from. that shocker on the 14th green. In the par three, after a devastating run of three birdies in a row from the 11th, he conjured his tee shot from a distance that everyone thought was a shot and, had it been match play, Fleetwood would almost certainly have missed. The putt.
Indeed, the tiddler was about the same length as the one Rickie Fowler gave to Fleetwood for the winning point in the Ryder Cup four months ago.
Except McIlroy even didn't hit the hole. Then, to compound his mistake, he pulled a four-foot return ball. In one crazy minute, the bird's formality turned into a scarecrow's misfortune (see video below). McIlroy put his head in his hands.
Rory McIlroy three putts from two feet 😅 pic.twitter.com/RyH1p5z9Q0
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) January 14, 2024
“I thought I had hit a good birdie putt but when I looked up , it flew right over the cup,” he explained. “I knew I must have pushed him, so I was wary of doing the same with my par putt, so he inevitably went left. Let's just say it was an unfortunate turn of events. I was pleased with how I bounced back over the next few holes.”
McIlroy holed a 15-footer on the 15th and then birdied the 17th from seven feet to put one clear header into the last. It was in his hands, but the hook from the tee touched the path and flew into the stream. There was still hope.
With South African Triston Lawrence (64) playing for the club at under-18 level, the same mark as Fleetwood, McIlroy must have believed the ghost would see him through the play-offs. He duly made a five instead of a 67. But having converted from 15 feet to stay in contention on the 17th, Fleetwood — so often a bridesmaid — made another on the 18th to raise his hand and claim his first victory in 14 months. take home a check for £330,000.
McIlroy congratulates his good friend Tommy Fleetwood. Photo: Ali Haider/Shutterstock
“Obviously it’s a great feeling to hit a shot like that to beat a good player like Rory,” Fleetwood said after shooting 67 on a player-under total of 19. “It’s funny, I played Rory at the Scottish Open [in July last year] when he birdied the 18th and won, and there was an element of it today where I just felt it was my turn.”
Fleetwood admitted he was “surprised” strange scene that occurred on the 14th. “Yeah, I just expected Rory to get over it and move on,” he said. “But what didn’t surprise me was how Rory shrugged it off and played the next three holes.”
Fleetwood has had seven top-five finishes since Sun City in November 2022 — including three seconds — and there were inevitably critics questioning his ability to close the place. However, the 32-year-old has remained patient and returns to the brink of the world top 10 with his seventh Tour success.
“I think winning is a habit, but naturally when you come like that it’s closed so many times it’s disappointing,” he said. “However, at the same time there were too many positive things to think about and I was determined to remember that I had been doing the right thing for a long time. Win or lose today, tomorrow I would get up and keep doing the same thing.”
Fleetwood poses with the trophy. Photo: Ali Haider/Shutterstock
McIlroy feels the same, and it will help his thinking because his next test will be the Desert Classic, which starts Thursday, 18 miles down the road at Emirates, a course where he has won three times, including 12 months ago. .
No doubt the dumbass mass of detractors who foolishly attacked him on social media will insist that this failure confirms their theory about suspected competitive will, but that's all the 34-year-old needs to do for a man, it's to look at the stats and see that his C game was almost good enough.
In four days, McIlroy found water five times — quite a feat in the desert — made a quadruple bogey on Friday and putt three times from two feet — and still only found himself short.
“I made a lot of stupid mistakes and when you come back for the first time after a two-month break you expect that,” he said. “So if I can get that right next week, I feel like the rest of the game is right. But look, I'm really happy for Tommy. He's played some incredible golf over the past year, but he hasn't crossed the line. So for him to get a win here is great for him and it will be good for his confidence. I hope he starts there.”
At the other end of the leaderboard, American Ken Weyand scored 86 points to finish with 53 points, which statisticians say is the highest four-round score in a regular tournament. in the Tour's 53-year history.
The 54-year-old, brought in by sponsors despite never having played in a top-flight event, finished 72 shots behind Fleetwood. Since there were 72 holes, that means he played a little worse on each hole.
Club members could have some fun with Weyand when he returns to his day job as general manager of the exclusive Grove XXIII course. owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan in South Florida.
But Weyand had the last laugh as he still walked away with £6,500 — the prize for finishing last (39 shots ahead of his «closest» competitor).< /p>
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