Dubai Invitational: Rory McIlroy Choked In The Finals

Tommy Fleetwood won the Dubai Invitational on Sunday after a back-and-forth final-round match in which Rory McIlroy made two enormous blunders on the back nine. Fleetwood also delivered a great finish of his own.

Dubai Invitational: Rory McIlroy Choked In The Finals

By the time he got to the 18th tee, McIlroy had already three-putted from two feet at No. 14, giving him a 1-shot advantage over Fleetwood, and he also dragged his drive into the water.

After the world No. 2 had to take a drop, Fleetwood proceeded to drive into the middle of the fairway and hit his approach to 16 feet, far beyond McIlroy’s reach.

Fleetwood made his own putt to score 67 for 19-under 265 total after McIlroy missed his twisting putt up the hill, earning his first victory since the Nedbank Golf Championship.

On the par-3 14th hole, McIlroy struck a phenomenally fantastic tee shot that put him only two fee from the pin. All he had to do was smash in the short putt for birdie and he would have seized a one-shot lead over Fleetwood with four holes to play.

McIlroy, though, missed the putt. Then he failed once more.

He was still only one stroke behind. In fact, he recovered right away, making a birdie on 15 and then another on 17. McIlroy managed to lead by one stroke going into the last round, thanks to a Fleetwood bogey on hole 16.

However, McIlroy choked once again.

“First week back out, I think you’re going to expect some of those sloppy mistakes,” McIlroy stated. “Unfortunately for me, those mistakes came at the wrong time today.”

On the 18th green, having gone without a win since the July Scottish Open, He grinned and embraced Fleetwood. They were playing partners at the Ryder Cup last year and are great friends.

 

 

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