At the Dubai Invitational, Tommy Fleetwood clinched a remarkable victory, edging out Rory McIlroy with a sensational performance on the final hole. Fleetwood’s steady nerve saw him birdie both the 17th and 18th holes, overtaking McIlroy who had earlier taken a solo lead at the 15th. Unfortunately for McIlroy, his tee shot on the 18th found the water, leading to a bogey and dropping a crucial shot at the last moment.
In a dramatic finish, Fleetwood sunk an impressive 16-foot birdie putt at the 18th, securing his triumph in Dubai. McIlroy, having led by one shot going into the final hole after a series of five birdies on the back nine, couldn’t maintain his momentum following his unfortunate water shot.
Watch Rory McILroy 2 foot, three putt drama as it happened!
Fleetwood delivered an exceptional round, carding five birdies and just one bogey for a score of 67. His prowess was particularly evident at the 10th hole, where a stunning bunker shot set him up for his third birdie of the day.
Thriston Lawrence also had a memorable performance, finishing in a tie for second place with McIlroy. His flawless round featured seven birdies, cementing his position on the leaderboard.
Speaking after his win, Fleetwood shared his joy, “It’s just incredible. I felt really in control and just had to stay patient. To win here, where I have so much support, it’s just fantastic. It’s a brilliant start to the year, and I’m excited to build on this.”
Throughout the final round, Fleetwood largely maintained his lead, while McIlroy experienced a rollercoaster day, missing a chance to take the solo lead on the 14th. McIlroy showed resilience, reclaiming the lead with a birdie on the 15th, but Fleetwood’s consecutive birdies at the end were decisive.
McIlroy reflected on his performance, acknowledging some mistakes but remaining positive about his overall play. “There were some sloppy errors, but it’s my first tournament back, and I’m taking a lot of positives from this week. I’ll learn from today and keep improving,” he said.
In other notable performances, England’s Jordan Smith finished fourth at 16-under, and Team Europe’s Francesco Molinari had an outstanding round, finishing fifth with a score of 15-under, including a remarkable 63 with nine birdies.
This thrilling conclusion to the Dubai Invitational sets an exciting tone for the golfing year ahead, with Fleetwood’s victory highlighting the unpredictability and drama of top-level golf.
