Mcilroy lets Dubai title slip from grasp as Li lifts prize
L Northern Irishman pipped by Chinese rival after squandering two-shot lead
0 Haotong Li of China holds the trophy after winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title with a tournament record 23-under-par total. Rory Mcilroy may have been satisfied with getting in the mix in Abu Dhabi in his first start in more than three months but a dose of Dubai disappointment second time out darkened his mood. “P **** d off” was how he summed up squandering a two-shot lead with eight holes to play in being pipped by China’s Haotong Li in his bid for a record-equalling third victory in the Omega Desert Classic.
On a day when Richie Ramsay fared the best of the Scots with a closing eight-under-par 64 to finish in the top ten, Li, in fairness, ended up a worthy winner at Emirates Golf Club. The 22-year-old birdied three out of the last four holes to close with a 69, setting a new tournament record for the event with an impressive 23-under-par 265 total.
It was his second European Tour victory and sees him become the first Chinese player to break into the world’s top 50. “Happy, incredible,” he replied to being asked to describe his emotions. However, this was one that got away from Mcilroy, the sting from which will feel particularly painful due to the fact he let a golden opportunity to taste victory for the first time in 16 months – his last success was in the Tour Championship in Atlanta in September 2016 – slip from his grasp.
When a two-shot swing went in the 28-year-old’s favour as he birdied the par-5 tenth and Li ran up a bogey after being forced to take a penalty drop from a bush, it looked as though Mcilroy was destined to taste success early into his eagerly-awaited return following a three-month break.
That he didn’t was more down to his own slackness than that strong finish by his playing partner. Mcilroy, for example, shouldn’t have been anywhere near the bunker he found at the short 11th, costing him a bogey. He also shouldn’t have walked off the 13th with a par after leaving himself with a short iron into the green. And he was foolish to take on a risky-looking shot from the desert after a pushed drive at the 16th, where getting back on to the fairway would have given him a better chance to save par.
Both players then birdied the 17th to leave Li a shot ahead. Mcilroy’s chance of at least forcing a playoff increased after Li found the left rough with his tee shot and had to lay up, but he showed nerves of steel to roll in a 15-footer for birdie, which Mcilroy matched to also close with a 69.
“It was just one of those days where I was sort of fighting everything a little bit,” admitted Mcilroy afterwards. “If someone had of told me at the start of the year you’d finish third and second your first two events, I’d say, yeah, I’d take that. But, being in the positions I’ve been in and having two close calls the first couple of weeks of the year, it’s a little difficult. The competitor in me is very disappointed right now. I wanted to win. I always want to win, and I just didn’t do enough when I needed to.”
Double Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton cemented his position in the Ryder Cup qualification battle by closing with a 66 to finish third on 20-under, a shot ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy.
Ramsay’s scintilating lastday effort beat his previous best score on this course by five shots. The Aberdonian carded matching halves of 32 in a bogey-free closing 64 for a 16-under-par 272 total, finishing joint sixth with 12 others, including 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson. Ramsay had started the day in joint 49th but comfortably recorded his best performance in this event, having failed to finish better than 31st in eight previous appearances. “To have a round like that so early in the season is big for me because I’m not an earlyseason player,” said Ramsay, pictured, after securing a payday worth close to £42,000. “I played very similar to some of the rounds last week in Abu Dhabi [where he tied for 40th behind Tommy Fleetwood], but today was the first time I’ve been able to make some putts from ten to 12 feet.” l Turkish Airlines flies five times a week from Edinburgh to Dubai via Istanbul starting from £350 including taxes and golf clubs fly for free in addition to a 40kg baggage allowance as standard (50kg in business). Book turkishairlines.com or 0844 800 6666. BOWLS: Mark Dawes, a 35-year-old accountant from Bury, picked up the biggest prize in the sport yesterday when he was crowned the 40th Just World Indoor Singles champion, writes Anne Dunwoodie.
World No 12 Dawes beat countryman Rob Paxton 8-7, 6-7, 2-0 in a pulsating final at Potters Resort.
A delighted Dawes said: “Last year I lost in the first round to Scottish qualifier Charlie Bence and was home after the first day. This year I think my journey will be a lot pleasanter. I got a lot of confidence when I won the pairs title last week with Jamie Chestney and that shored me up for singles.”
On his way to the title he overcame CY Wong from Hong Kong, David Gourlay 2-1 in a tie break, then Mark Royal and Darren Burnett in straight sets. Burnett saw his hopes of regaining the title he won in 2014 disappear as he lost 8-7, 10-5 in the semis.