Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy came through an enthralling final-round tussle with rival Patrick Reed to claim a dramatic victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and make a ...

Reed edged ahead for the first time with a kick-in birdie at the 13th, as McIlroy two-putted from 20 feet on the same par-five and then got up and down from a greenside bunker to save par at the next and remain at 18 under. Reed clenched his fist in celebration after holing from 10 feet to save par at the ninth and remain at 14 under, as McIlroy ended a run of pars and doubled his advantage by signing off his front nine with an eight-foot birdie. McIlroy opened with three two-putt pars and scrambled to avoid dropping a shot at the par-three fourth after narrowly finding water off the tee, as Reed followed a birdie at the second by rolling in from 20 feet at the par-five next to close within two.

The world number one birdied the final two holes to shoot a four-under 68 and finish on 19 under to win by one shot. Northern Irishman McIlroy ...

It's a great start to the year." That led to a scruffy double-bogey finish and 13 under overall. He then hit a solid wedge shot in and let out a tremendous roar after holing the birdie putt. However, up ahead Reed had problems after a wayward drive on the par-four 16th. It set the tone for the week with fans keen to see McIlroy and Reed paired together at some point. "Mentally it was very tough," McIlroy told BBC Sport, referring to his rivalry with Reed.

Rory McIlroy held off a dramatic final-day surge from Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic for the third time on Monday.

The most satisfying thing is I haven’t had my best, far from it, and to be able to win when you don’t have your best, that’s the holy grail of what we are trying to do.” Somehow the fractured world of golf felt much a better place. I expended a lot of mental energy trying to focus on myself and focus on shooting a score and trying to reach a number.” Reed’s first dropped stroke of the day, at 16, restored parity before McIlroy landed what looked the major blow with a birdie at the penultimate hole. Last year, the 72nd hole of the Desert Classic cost McIlroy victory. “He looked through it and he identified it exactly the same way I did.” “I’ve looked through the binoculars, identified any golf ball and I explained what my markings were to the rules official” said the 2018 Masters champion. [correctly identified his ball in the branches of a palm tree](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/29/dp-world-tour-clarifies-rules-after-patrick-reed-penalty-drop-controversy) during round three. I’ve stood and defended Patrick in some of the controversies.” I want to win for my legacy and leaving my mark on the game. When McIlroy’s role as the unofficial voice of golf’s establishment against the rebel LIV tour, of which Reed is a part, is factored in it became easy to sense this meant more than a trophy. From Teegate to Treegate to a denouement that was well worth the wait.

The world number one described it as “one of the toughest rounds” of his career.

He found a bush off the next tee, though managed par and then two-putted for birdie at the last to leave both men level at 18-under with McIlroy, with a birdie on 17, still to play the last hole. “Mentally, today, was probably one of the toughest rounds I’ve ever had to play because it would be really easy to let your emotions to get in the way. By that point, the Reed had stuttered for the first time in the round, dropping a shot on 16th and scrabbling to make par at the next hole. He left himself a 15ft birdie putt for the win with his third, it dropped in and 2023 begins much as he ended a dominant 2022. By that point, he knew McIlroy needed to make an error to give him a realistic shot at the win. The backdrop to it all began with a subpoena delivered to McIlroy’s door on Christmas Eve by Reed’s lawyer.

A final round of 68 and a birdie on the last just saw McIlroy edge out his LIV golf rival in the Middle East.

I didn’t feel the need to acknowledge him. “So I didn’t see a tee coming my direction at all, but apparently that’s what happened. McIlroy will pick up a big pay cheque, with the winner pocketing over $1.5million. It was the scene of his first ever professional victory back in 2009. “I’m living in reality, I don’t know where he’s living. “It was a battle all day, it’s been a battle all week. "I showed a lot of mental strength today." “It means a lot,” McIlroy added. Asked if it was naive of Reed to expect a warm welcome given the circumstances, McIlroy told Sky Sports: “I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on McIlroy dropped a shot after narrowly missing a putt on the 15th hole, but Reed also dropped a shot on 16 to leave the pair level at the top of the leaderboard. McIlroy and Reed were involved in an incident on the driving range ahead of the tournament when Reed threw a tee at the world number one. "It's was one of the toughest rounds I've ever had to play," a beaming McIlroy said afterwards.

World no.1 Rory McIlroy beat Patrick Reed in a thrilling battle down the stretch in Dubai to win in on his first start of the calendar year for the first ...

There is tons of room for improvement but it's a great start to the year." He later explained that his decision to blank his former Ryder Cup rival came after he was served with a court subpoena by the player's lawyer on Christmas Eve. But with the duo looking destined for a tantalising play-off, McIlroy held his nerve to hole a clutch 15ft birdie putt and win by one shot. It is sweeter than it possibly needs to be or should be. I showed a lot of mental strength. "It would be really easy to let your emotions get in the way but I just had to concentrate on myself and forget who was up there on the leaderboard.

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.

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

McIlroy made a birdie on the 18th to beat the American Reed by a single stroke and claim the Dubai Desert Classic following a rancorous week.

[McIlroy and Reed had clashed throughout the weekend](/sport/golf/patrick-reed-rory-mcilroy-teegate-dubai-b2270355.html) in the United Arab Emirates as tensions continued to flare between PGA Tour players and those that have joined the breakaway LIV Golf series. “It would be easy to let emotions get in way. But I’m going to enjoy this.

Rory McIlroy admitted Sundays final round battle with Patrick Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic was one of the toughest rounds hes ever had to play.

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." McIlroy followed eight straight pars with a much-needed birdie on the ninth to briefly double his lead, only for Reed to then almost hole his second shot to the par-five 10th for an albatross. I really feel I haven't had my best all week but I just managed my game so well and played really smart.

McIlroy comes through a tense final round against arch nemesis Reed to finish on 19 under and win by one shot. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 30: ...

And then, just like that, it was gone, taken by gravity to give McIlroy a win in his opening tournament of the year for the first time in his career. The pace of the putt was expertly judged bringing the ball in from the left on a definitive arc. Reed obliged with a mistake of his own at 16 to leave the pair locked at 17 under with two to play. Though he had a shot, informed by his experience at this tournament 12 months ago, when he fired twice into the lake at the front of the green, and again on Sunday, he elected to lay up and take his chances from 95 yards. How it might have got from one to the other is a mystery. He had done his job, layering the final round in a biblical tension, the “bad” guy bringing from the “good” guy a mighty response.

World No. 1 McIlroy and Reed were involved in a dispute at the start of the tournament and they battled until the end to see who would emerge victorious.

By the 14th hole they were level on 18-under par. "I'm living in reality, I don't know where he's living. It's a great start to the year and a really good foundation to work from." "I'm going to enjoy this. "It was a battle all day. Honestly it's been a battle all week.

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.

Rory McIlroy has paid tribute to his own mental strength after holding off a brilliant challenge from rival Patrick Reed to claim a dramatic Hero Dubai ...

It was nice to be able to play the percentages and make it pay off." "So I tried to hit a sort of easy driver and it came out really, really hot. "It was a battle all day. "It [victory] means a lot," McIlroy said. "It would be really easy to let your emotions get in the way. I feel like I showed a lot of mental strength out there today.

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.

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.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI IN DUBAI: If the pilot flies a plane like his passenger drove his golf ball, Rory McIlroy will be taking the scenic route home to Florida.

To the ongoing question of when he will win his next major, this year feels as good a bet as any. In the wider storms around LIV and Reed, it was perhaps just another day. And yet there will be a trophy in the hold and the satisfaction in his mind of a grudge match dramatically won. Sweeter no doubt because it was Reed. I really feel like I haven't had my best all week but I showed a lot of mental strength.’ Reed – who else?

Rory McIlroy fired a final-round 68 to hold off Patrick Reed and take the title at the Dubai Desert Classic.

I feel like I showed a lot of mental strength out there today, and again, something to really build on for the rest of the year.” “This is probably sweeter than it should be or needs to be but I feel like I’ve still got some stuff to work on,” he said. “Forget who was up there on the leaderboard, and I did that really, really well. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t expect a hello or a handshake.” Reed eventually identified his ball from the ground to avoid a stroke-and-distance penalty, although pundits were none too pleased. “It means a lot,” McIlroy said.

The 33-year-old was delighted to secure his first title of the year and further cement his place at the top of the world rankings.

“I hit two balls in the water on Sunday last year and then hit one in yesterday. “I felt them closing in, and obviously on the back nine when Patrick drew level with me, I really needed to dig deep. In avoiding that, McIlroy had cause to thank his own coolness of mind at the 72nd hole. “It was a big release,” admitted McIlroy. But by far the most visceral pleasure was reserved for the two-fingered salute his one-stroke victory over LIV Golf’s Patrick Reed delivered to the American. McIlroy’s 68 was just enough to trump Reed’s superb 65 playing in the group ahead after an absorbing back nine to-and-fro.

An event of clashes and controversy ended with the Northern Irishman narrowly victorious.

4th place: $450,000 (£362,475) 3rd place: $563,400 (£453,819) 2nd place: $990,000 (£797,445)