Li staves off McIlroy push for Dubai title
DUBAI: China’s Li Haotong secured the biggest title of his young career yesterday, a blistering finish helping him see off the challenge of Rory McIlroy to win the US$3 million Dubai Desert Classic.
Li finished on a tournament record 23-under-par 265 after a final-round threeunder 69 to win by one shot over McIlroy, who also shot a 69, denying the Northern Irishman’s bid to claim his first title in 17 months.
The 22-year-old from China made a 10-foot birdie putt on the last after McIlroy had ramped up the pressure by reaching the par-five 18th hole in two shots.
Li started the day one ahead of his Northern Ireland rival and that advantage was quickly gone on the first hole when he made a bogey.
However, it was a bogey on the par-five 10th by Li that led to a two-shot swing when McIlroy made a birdie there, and the advantage remained with the four-time major champion when his bogey on the 11th was matched with another dropped shot by Li on the 12th.
But the momentum swung Li’s way when he dropped a 20-feet birdie putt on the parthree 15th from the back fringe and McIlroy made a bogey on the 16th after hitting his three-wood off the tee into the waste area.
Both players then birdied the last two holes.
The win will lift Li to around 32nd in the world rankings, making him the first Chinese player to break into the top-50.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton finished third on 20 under.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat closed with a 70 to finish tied 51st on nine-under 279. Fellow Thai Phachara Khongwatmai was at joint 57th on 281 after a 71.