From Teegate to Treegate to a denouement that used to be neatly definitely worth the wait. The maximum abnormal of Dubai Desert Classic weeks resulted in wholly suitable style on Monday. For Rory McIlroy, a 3rd Desert Classic name and victory on his first get started of 2023. The international No 1 has solidified his place.
Even at this early juncture, it feels inconceivable to forget about the sense McIlroy will arrive at Augusta National in April together with his greatest probability but to win the Masters and due to this fact whole a grand slam of majors.
Magnolia Lane, although, can wait. This used to be a match that started with a furore involving McIlroy and Patrick Reed. It concluded with the similar pair jostling for the name. When McIlroy’s position because the unofficial voice of golfing’s status quo towards the riot LIV excursion, of which Reed is a component, is factored in it become simple to sense this supposed greater than a trophy.
“Did I want to win, yes,” McIlroy mentioned. “Was there added incentive because of who was up there? Absolutely. But I want to win for me. I want to win for my legacy and leaving my mark on the game. So it’s great that there’s an ancillary benefit to me winning instead of someone else.
“Mentally, it was very tough today. I felt like I could have let my emotions get in the way. 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 had drawn attention over whether he had correctly identified his ball in the branches of a palm tree during round three. Had Reed usurped McIlroy, we’d rather be hearing a lot more about that. Instead, McIlroy publicly defended him. “I felt it was fine. Kev Feeney is a really experienced referee and he’s not going to do anything wrong.
“Had it been anyone else in the field it would have been a non-issue, but because of certain things in the past, people brought some stuff up, which is maybe unfair in some ways. I’ve stood and defended Patrick in some of the controversies.”
Reed is aware of the court’s social media casting aspersions, but insists he did no wrong on Sunday the 17th. “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. “He looked through it and he identified it exactly the same way I did.”
For much of the final round, McIlroy struggled. Reed was inspired, marching to a one-shot lead – he had started three adrift – after McIlroy bogeyed the 15th. Reed’s first dropped stroke of the day, at 16, restored parity before McIlroy landed what looked to be the major blow with a birdie at the penultimate hole.
What happened next allowed McIlroy to snatch glory from the jaws of disaster. Last year, the 72nd hole of the Desert Classic cost McIlroy victory. As his drive rolled toward the pond, another painful finale looked on the cards. The ball stopped short of water, but in a treacherous lie, from where he could only advance it 100 yards on the par five.
Reed’s birdie in the group immediately ahead meant McIlroy needed to match that four to avoid a playoff. The 33-year-old leapt with unbridled joy after his curling 15ft putt found the bottom of the cup. Reed’s 65 and 18 under par aggregate was beaten by McIlroy’s 68 for minus 19.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to everyone else that played this week,” mentioned McIlroy when requested what proportion he felt like he used to be enjoying at. “I generally is a lot higher. The maximum gratifying factor is I have never had my highest, a long way from it, and with the intention to win while you do not have your highest, that is the holy grail of what we’re seeking to do.”
Third position belonged to Lucas Herbert at 16 beneath. Ian Poulter’s percentage of 6th would have stung given he took seven eventually. Henrik Stenson blasted throughout the box with a 64 to tie for 8th. As Poulter, Stenson, Reed and the LIV contingent headed for this week’s tournament in Saudi Arabia, McIlroy used to be the darling of Dubai over again. Somehow the fractured international of golfing felt a a lot better position.