McIlroy pips Reed to bag Dubai crown
World No.1 Rory McIlroy won his third Dubai Desert Classic title yesterday after he shot a final round of 68 to finish at 19-under overall, beating Patrick Reed by one stroke.
American Reed finished with a commendable final-round score of 65 which included an eagle on the par-five 10th hole but bogeyed the 16th to post 18-under overall.
In response, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy kept his cool and birdied the last two holes — including a wedge to 15 feet and a downhill putt on the 18th — to celebrate his first title on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, since November 2019.
“It was a battle all day. Honestly it has been a battle all week. I really feel like I haven’t had my best all week but I managed my game and played really smart,” McIlroy said.
“I managed my game well, lots of room for improvements. Mentally, today it was probably one of the toughest rounds I’ve ever had to play because it would have been really easy to let your emotions get in the way. I’m going to enjoy this. This is probably sweeter than it should be or needs to be... A really good foundation for the year.”
Australia’s Lucas Herbert, who had set the clubhouse target at 16-under overall earlier in the day, finished third.
Earlier, McIlroy said Reed is “not living in reality” after the American tried to talk to him at the Dubai tournament, a month after his lawyers served the top-ranked star court papers at his home on Christmas Eve.
Reed, who is taking legal action on different fronts since joining the Saudibacked LIV Golf series, admitted he threw a tee towards McIlroy, who had blanked him, before the event. McIlroy said he did not see it.
“Patrick came up to say hello and I didn’t really want him to,” McIlroy told reporters last week.
“I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve. Trying to have a nice time with my family and someone shows up on your doorstep and delivers that, you’re not going to take that well.
“I’m living in reality, I don’t know where he’s living. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t expect a hello or a handshake.”
Reed said that his affiliation with LIV Golf was the reason McIlroy snubbed him.