RORY HAS A RARE TEAR IN DUBAI
Star gets shirty after freak flag shot derails title chances to let Collin in
RAGING Rory McIlroy almost tore the shirt off his back after a meltdown saw Collin Morikawa triumph at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy’s chip clattered the pin at 15 and rebounded into a greenside bunker, costing him a bogey.
He three-putted 16 for another and found water at the last as he carded a 74 to finish 12 under.
That saw him set about his clothing in fury but there were no such histrionics from Open champion Morikawa.
He ended a stunning season by also becoming the first American winner of the Race to Dubai and immediately targeted becoming world No.1.
Morikawa birdied five of his final seven holes for a closing 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish 17 under par, three shots clear of Matt Fitzpatrick and Alexander Bjork.
He said: “It’s really special. It’s an honour to be the first American to win the Race to Dubai and to put my name on there with so many greats.”
Asked about his targets for next year, world No.2 Morikawa said: “Win more. It’s not an encore.
“It’s not a swansong farewell to what I’m doing in 2021. I’m going to set some high goals. I always have. I’m going to set the bar as high as I can get and keep going.
“I’m still not No. 1 in the world so I have a lot to work on in my game.”
Victory in Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas next month would take the 24-yearold top of the rankings and he said: “I am definitely aware of that. Hopefully we can get there, even if it’s just for that one week. I’m sure we’re still going to have many chances hopefully come next year.”
Top-Scot Robert MacIntyre shot 71 to share fourth place at 13-under.
He is confirmed for three of the four 2022 majors with ninth on the Tour’s money-list securing a US Open Championship entry and he was already into next April’s Masters and the 150th Open at St Andrews.
Grant Forrest for a shot a closing 67 for a share of 16th at nine under par. COLLIN CARD