Rory McIlroy began 2024 in disappointing fashion after scuppering a one shot lead on the final hole of the DP World Tour's Dubai Invitational, allowing Tommy Fleetwood to snatch victory.
McIlroy had gone into the final round one shot behind his Ryder Cup teammate, but by the tenth hole Fleetwood had stretched his lead to three.
Rory McIlroy Loses In Dubai After Mad Back Nine
The erratic nature of the Northern Irishman's round was on full view during the remaining eight holes, as he rattled off three birdies in a row to draw level.
He looked on course for a fourth when he hit his tee shot on the par-3 14th to three feet, but managed to three putt for a bogey four.
Two more birdies in the next three holes gave him a one shot lead heading into 18, but he pulled his tee shot into the water and could only manage a bogey, while Fleetwood birdied to take the win.
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Rory McIlroy: one of uspic.twitter.com/yInuYQPeTB
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 14, 2024
With a one shot lead going down the last, Rory puts it into the water 😬
He went on to bogey, while Fleetwood birdied to snatch the Dubai Invitational out of his hands.
Hopefully not a sign of things to come this year.pic.twitter.com/F8sZ4oqO1w
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 14, 2024
Birdie-birdie finish.@TommyFleetwood1 wins in Dubai! 🏆#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/pVB4zVhJVE
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 14, 2024
"I think for the first week back out, it was a really positive week," McIlroy said after the round.
"Looking back on today, you know, a tee shot in the water with an iron on the front nine, had that three-putt from three feet on the par 3, and then the water ball on the last.
"So you know, 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 you know, 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.
"Just sort of the shots that I'm comfortable in. I tried to hit a tee shot on the last; 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 like I should hit, and then I wanted to try to turn one over because it was the only way that I was going to be able to carry the bunker on the right, too. Just a bad swing at the end there. And.
"Then just a little sloppy, a lack of concentration with the tee shot on 6 in the water, and then the same thing with the putt on 13 or 14 as well. Just a couple little mental errors in there that hopefully I'll clean up for next week."
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