Rory McIlroy was undone by "sloppy mistakes" as he frittered away a shot at victory in his first tournament of 2024 at the Dubai Invitational.
The 2023 Race to Dubai winner claimed one of his two DP World Tour victories last season in the Gulf State, at the long-standing Dubai Desert Classic, which title he will defend at the Emirates Golf Club next week.
Having fallen three shots adrift of overnight leader Tommy Fleetwood thru 10, McIlroy found a hot streak on the inward nine, rattling in three birdies in succession between 11 and 13 to tie the lead.
He appeared certain to hit the front after knocking his tee shot in close at the par-3 14th. However, to the shock of the galleries, McIlroy proceeded to three-putt from all of 2ft.
Even then, McIlroy rallied, draining a 19ft putt for birdie on 15 to tie the lead. Fleetwood appeared to be in the process of wilting, a poor chip from the fringe of the 16th leading to a bogey.
While South Thirston Lawrence made a late charge to post a clubhouse target at -18, McIlroy appeared to be in control, birdieing the short-par-4 17th to get to -19.
Fleetwood sunk a 31ft birdie putt on the 71st to keep his hopes alive but McIlroy led by a stroke coming up the last.
Then disaster struck, McIlroy hooking his drive into the adjacent lake. While he managed to save bogey at least, his playoff hopes were snuffed out as Fleetwood drained a 16 footer to win by a stroke with a birdie-birdie finish.
Drama at the 72nd hole! 🫣@McIlroyRory finds water down the last. #DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/zWpfowFFKH
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 14, 2024
While the World No. 2 rued the mistakes which cost him victory, he struck a cheerful note as far as the bigger picture was concerned.
"First week back out, it was a really positive week," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"Looking back on today, I had a tee shot in the water with an iron on the front nine (6th), had that three-putt from 3ft on the par-3, and had that water ball at the last.
"I think first week back out, I think you're going to expect some of those sloppy mistakes and unfortunately for me those mistakes came at the wrong time today. But I’ll reflect on it and learn from today and there’s still a lot of good stuff in there. But just need to tidy up some of the edges and if I do that, I feel good going into next week."
Asked about the tee shot on the 72nd, McIlroy felt he was culpable of going for the shot he thought he "should hit" rather than one he felt more comfortable hitting.
"I tried to hit a tee shot on the last that... I probably wanted to hit a different shot because that was what was most comfortable. But I tried to go with the shot that I feel I should hit.
"I wanted to turn one over because it was the only way I was going to carry the bunker on the right. Just a bad swing."
As for the infamous three-putt - which provoked gasps from everyone in the vicinity - McIlroy just pushed it and then overcompensated with the one coming back.
"I pushed the first putt then I was guarding against that push with the one coming back and hit it left," he later explained. "It was a bad sequence of events."
Nonetheless, he was extremely happy for Ryder Cup teammate Fleetwood, who overcame a wobble on the back nine to scoop his victory since November 2022.
"I'm really happy for Tommy," said McIlroy. "He’s played some incredible golf over the last year without actually getting a win. So for him to get the win here, it’s great for him and it will do his confidence a world of good and hopefully he kicks on from it.
