Rory McIlroy

McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish 19 under par.

The tap-in eagle took Reed into a share of the lead and, although McIlroy two-putted the same hole for birdie, Reed also birdied the 11th to get back on level terms. “It was a battle all day, it’s been a battle all week. “It means a lot,” McIlroy said.

Rory McIlroy overcame a final-round charge from Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic in a tense Monday duel between players who were involved in a ...

... A really good foundation for the year." Honestly it has been a battle all week," McIlroy said. "It was a battle all day. "I managed my game well, lots of room for improvements. 16 but made birdie at No. Reed bogeyed No.

The Northern Irishman birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish a shot ahead of Reed on 19 under par.

I feel like I showed a lot of mental strength out there and again, something to really build on for the rest of the year.” “The good thing is I know who I am. “I’ve heard about it, but really all I can say is that I looked through the binoculars, identified my golf ball and explained what my markings were to the rules official. “Normally it’s always negative, so I try to stay away from it. I really feel I haven’t had my best all week but I just managed my game so well and played really smart. McIlroy and Reed had begun the week embroiled in a war of words after Reed threw a tee towards McIlroy after being snubbed by him on the practice range.

The DP World Tour got the ending it wanted as McIlroy starts his year with a win for the first time.

McIlroy has lost to just 10 players in his last seven starts, and he has 12 top-five finishes in 17 starts dating back to the 2022 Masters. McIlroy has not finished outside the top four in his last seven professional tournaments, and he's won three of those, including last year's Tour Championship and CJ Cup. He canned it for a birdie-birdie finish and the 15th win of his DP World Tour career. McIlroy took a healthy lead into the final round in Dubai, shooting 66-70-65 in the first three rounds for what looked like it would be his third win in his last seven starts. McIlroy also begins his year with a win for the first time in his decorated career. From the beginning of the week, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed were embroiled in a tussle that ended up lasting all four rounds and culminated with a birdie-birdie finish by McIlroy to win the Dubai Desert Classic for the the third time.

Rory McIlroy won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Monday with an 18th-hole birdie. That's impressive enough, but what took the victory to another level was the ...

'Clutch' McIlroy JUST avoids play-off against villain in epic finish to one of his 'toughest rounds' ever.

“I feel like I showed a lot of mental strength out there today. The DP World Tour stays in the UAE for a fourth consecutive week and will head to the northern emirate of Ras al Khaimah this week for the $2 million RAK Championship. McIlroy finished on 19-under par, while Reed, starting the day four shots behind the Northern Irishman, made a crucial bogey on the 16th and a par on the drivable par-4 17th hole in his round of 65. It was also his third Dubai Desert Classic victory in 13 appearances. “I just had to really concentrate on focusing on myself, forget who was up there on the leaderboard and I did that really well. However, the Northern Irishman made amends with birdies on the 17th and 18th in a round of four-under par 68.

Why the battle for World No. 1 in men's golf is even closer than you realized.

Rahm had a chance to take the top spot this past week, but was unable to win a third consecutive start at the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday. Oh, by the way, reigning Masters champ Scottie Scheffler sits in between the two at No. Jon Rahm's recent rampage has been one of the big storylines early in 2023—especially because it didn't result in him moving back on top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Despite the tension between them throughout the week at the Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy spoke up for Patrick Reed on Monday.

“If it had been anyone else in the field it would have been a nonissue, but because of certain things in the past, people bring stuff up. “It’s almost like, a lot of people within the game, it’s almost like a hobby to sort of kick him when he’s down. … It’s hard, because you try to give the player the benefit of the doubt, right?” [early week exchange/non-exchange became the talk of Golf Twitter](https://www.golfdigest.com/story/rory-mcilroy-patrick-reed-dubai-frosty-response-christmas-eve-supoena). Yet McIlroy hasn’t always had issues with Reed; he’s even been one of his bigger defenders over the years. So where would McIlroy stand when asked about Reed’s latest rules run-in?

Rory McIlroy holed a clutch birdie putt at the final hole at Emirates Golf Club to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and his first Rolex Series title, ...

As it stands McIlroy (1,856.00 points) Jon Rahm (1,850.00 points), and Victor Perez (1,216. "It was a battle all day. It's a great start to the year and a really good foundation to work from." "It means a lot," said McIlroy. "It's actually funny, (caddie) Harry said to me, 'finally we get a gold bib'. The 15ft birdie putt on the 18th hole, saw the six-time Ryder Cup Europe player finish one stroke ahead of U.S.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy says defeating Patrick Reed by one stroke in the Dubai Desert Classic was a tough mental and physical battle.

Afterwards, Reed said it was "unfortunate" that McIlroy did not shake his hand and was quoted as describing his rival as "an immature little child". The top-ranked McIlroy overcame a final-round charge from Reed to win, finishing birdie-birdie to shoot a 4-under 68 and win by a stroke from Reed, who shot 65. - Reed reportedly called McIlroy an "immature little child" after the latter refused to shake hands on the practice range

The top-ranked McIlroy overcame a final-round charge from Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic for ...

Reed was attempting to become the first LIV Golf player to win an event on the European tour. Ian Poulter, another LIV golfer, joined Reed in attempting to hunt down McIlroy but his challenge ended after making double-bogey at the last. 18 dribbled into the rough beside the water to the right of the fairway — he watched it all the way, clearly fearing the worst — and he decided to lay up. “It was a battle all day — honestly, it's been a battle all week,” McIlroy. However, he was overtaken on the back nine by Reed, who picked up seven shots in his first 13 holes while McIlroy was playing safety-first golf. “I just had to really focus on myself and forget who was up there on the leaderboard.” His third shot from 92 yards was close enough and, as Reed watched from the scorer's hut, McIlroy made the putt. Reed bogeyed No.16, could only make par at the drivable 17th after hitting his tee shot into a small bush but birdied No. I probably could have got to the green but with what happened yesterday and last year, I tried to give myself a wedge and get it up and down for the win. "I feel as if I haven’t had my best all week but just managed my game so well and played really smart. McIlroy said he was served a subpoena on Christmas Eve from Larry Klayman — an attorney who has filed a lawsuit against the PGA Tour and European tour for suspending players who have signed with LIV Golf. Klayman also represents Reed in lawsuits filed against a number of media outlets.

Rory McIlroy winning two majors in 2023 would represent a "par" season for the world No 1, Dame Laura Davies told Sky Sports Golf.

Let's hope there is great golf and no more drama from him." People want a little edge, something golf doesn't always get as most players get on really well. [Rory McIlroy holds off rival Patrick Reed to win Dubai Desert Classic](https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12799003/dp-world-tour-rory-mcilroy-holds-off-rival-patrick-reed-to-claim-hero-dubai-desert-classic-victory) [Rory McIlroy hails mental strength If he wins two this year, I think that would be par. If he wins more than that, it will be sensational. Rory McIlroy backed to end major drought in 2023 after beginning season with victory at Hero Dubai Desert Classic; Dame Laura Davies says two majors would represent par for the world No 1, who will complete the career Grand Slam if he wins the Masters in April, live on Sky Sports

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Rory McIlroy watched his 15-foot birdie putt roll into the cup, clenched his fist and let out a roar to celebrate a ...

I managed my game well." "Mentally, today was probably one of the toughest rounds I have ever had to play because it would be really easy to let your emotions get in the way," McIlroy said. "It was a battle all day -- honestly, it's been a battle all week," McIlroy. "I feel as if I haven't had my best all week but just managed my game so well and played really smart. I probably could have got to the green but with what happened yesterday and last year, I tried to give myself a wedge and get it up and down for the win. 1 rolled in the putt.