World Number 1 Rory McIlroy put on an imperious performance at Emirates Golf Club to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by three strokes from Sweden’s Alexander Noren.
World Number 1 Rory McIlroy put on an imperious performance at Emirates Golf Club to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by three strokes from Sweden’s Alexander Noren.
McIlroy began the final day four shots clear of the field and he produced a steady last round of 70 to close out the victory – his second in this tournament.
Rory McIlroy swing sequence
The Northern Irishman’s advantage was immediately increased at the start of Sunday’s play when his closest challenger, Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark, ran up a triple-bogey seven on his opening hole.
The Dane recovered well but then stumbled again on the run for home, he ended the tournament in a tie for fourth place.
Lee Westwood closed the gap on McIlroy with three birdies in his first five holes and it looked as though the Englishman might apply some pressure. But his challenge faltered on the ninth hole where he found the water and suffered a double bogey.
The back nine was something of a procession for McIlroy after he secured a two-putt birdie at the par-5 13th. The 25-year-old simply protected his lead over the closing holes, finding fairways and greens and staying mistake-free. He cruised to victory – a fourth title in his last seven European Tour starts (in the other three he has finished second.)
“It’s nice to put my name on that trophy again,” he said. “I did what I needed to do today. I didn’t play quite as well as the first three days but I played a solid round and kept my nose in front.”
Sweden’s Alex Noren produced an excellent closing round of 65 to climb the leaderboard and end the week alone in second place. It’s a welcome return to form for the 32-year-old who spent most of 2014 on the side-lines because of tendonitis in his wrists.
“It was an amazing day, an amazing week,” he said. “I missed it so much - feeling my pulse and some nervousness, it's really nice.”
Defending champion Stephen Gallacher played another fine tournament at the Emirates Club. The Scot finished the week on 16-under-par in solo third place.
Omega Dubai Desert Classic Emirates GC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Jan 28 – Feb 1, purse €2,350,000, par 72
1 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66 64 66 70 266 €378,779 2 Alex Noren (Swe) 68 67 69 65 269 €252,519 3 Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 66 67 70 69 272 €142,272 T4 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 69 73 64 273 €82,908 T4 Gary Stal (Fra) 69 69 67 68 273 €82,908 T4 Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 64 69 70 70 273 €82,908 T4 Andy Sullivan (Eng) 65 68 70 70 273 €82,908 T4 Morten Orum Madsen (Den) 71 63 66 73 273 €82,908 T9 Thomas Aiken (RSA) 68 71 66 69 274 €44,318 T9 Graeme McDowell (NIR) 67 65 72 70 274 €44,318 T9 Robert Rock (Eng) 68 67 69 70 274 €44,318 T9 Lee Westwood (Eng) 65 68 69 72 274 €44,318
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
Rory McIlroy WITB
Driver Nike Vapor Pro 8.5 N 3 Wood Nike Vapor Speed 15 5 Wood Nike VRS Covert 19 Irons Nike VR Pro Blade 3-9 Wedges Nike VR Forged 46, 54, Nike Engage 59 Putters Nike Method 006 Ball Nike RZN Black Shoes Nike Lunar Control 3
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