Rory McIlroy emerged victorious after a tense battle with Patrick Reed in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
The world number one birdied the final two holes to shoot a four-under 68 and finish on 19-under to win by one stroke.
Northern Irishman McIlroy had led the field by three strokes overnight, but Reed had six strokes on his first 11 holes to wipe out that advantage.
McIlroy responded with three birdies and, after the American had birdied 18 to tie, drilled a 20-footer to win.
Heavy rain caused enough delays to force the game to a fifth day in Dubai. And the ending couldn’t have been better scripted for the DP World Tour with McIlroy holding off LIV Golf’s Reed in a first Monday finish in 35 years at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course.
“Mentally it was one of the toughest rounds because it would have been easy to let emotions get in the way,” McIlroy said, referring to his rivalry with Reed.
“I must have forgotten who was up there in the standings. I felt I showed a lot of mental toughness.”
It was the latest installment in an ongoing rivalry that escalated earlier in the week when McIlroy ignored Reed on the driving range and the American responded by teeing off a LIV Golf tee in his direction.
McIlroy then explained why he rejected Reed’s attempt to strike up a conversation.
“I was subpoenaed by his attorney on Christmas Eve,” said the 33-year-old, who was called as a witness in Reed’s defamation case against the PGA Tour, among others.
More soon.
