I’M ROARING WITH ANGER
Mcilroy blows it..and just can’t hide his frustration
RORY MCILROY admitted he was “p ***** off” after blowing his chance to win his first title for 15 months at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The Ulsterman, trailing overnight leader Li Haotong by a shot going into the final round, made three birdies in his first 10 holes to take a two-shot lead. But the four-time Major winner then dropped shots at 11 and 16, and three-putted 15 for par, as China’s Li Haotong (right) birdied four of his last six holes to win by a stroke.
Mcilroy, who shot a 69, has now finished third and second in the UAE for a combined total of 40-under par.
But asked how he felt to miss out on his first victory since September 2016, the frustrated 28-year-old said: “Yeah, p ***** off. I thought I was in the driver’s seat.
“Then just a bogey out of nowhere on 11 – just a bad nine-iron – and the threeputt on 13, those were the key holes of the tournament really, even though there was a bad tee shot on 16.
“It was a couple of bad shots, poor decisions, mental errors, and a few tentative putts. I just wish I could get a couple of those holes back.”
But Mcilroy, who is next scheduled to play at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am on February 11, added: “If someone had told me at the start of the year you’d finish third and second in your first two events, I’d take that.
“But being in the positions I’ve been in and having two close calls, it’s a little difficult.
“The competitor in me is very disappointed right now. I always want to win, and I just didn’t do enough when I needed to.”
Li, who won his maiden title on home soil at the 2016 Volvo China Open, shot a closing 63 at the Open and now becomes the first Chinese player to enter the top 50.
“It’s incredible, I’m so happy,” said the 23-yearold. “Over the last four holes I hit some of the best shots of my life.”
Tyrrell Hatton shot a closing 66 to finish two behind Mcilroy for another top-10 finish while Chris Paisley was fifth.