Dubai Desert Classic

Patrick Reed started the final day four shots back but moved level with Rory McIlroy after a sterling front nine.

He’s in the clubhouse at -18 after a superb final round of 65. It’s over to McIlroy now. McIlroy with 196 yards from the water’s edge. Cheers and roars from the crowd, safely on the green and he’s left with maybe 15 feet for the birdie and the win. [Rory McIlroy basks in ‘sweet’ victory over teegate rival Patrick Reed](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/rory-mcilroy-patrick-reed-dubai-classic-b2271829.html) There’s stuff to work on but a great start to the year and a great foundation to build off. It was nice to be able to play the percentages and make it pay off.” [McIlroy and Reed had clashed throughout the weekend](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/patrick-reed-rory-mcilroy-teegate-dubai-b2270355.html) in the United Arab Emirates as tensions continued to flare between PGA Tour players and those that have joined the breakaway LIV Golf series. Reed said it was “unfortunate” that McIlroy didn’t shake his hand and was quoted as describing McIlroy [as “an immature little child.”](/sport/golf/patrick-reed-rory-mcilroy-teegate-dubai-b2270355.html) [ traded verbal blows on Wednesday](/tv/sport/rory-mcilroy-patrick-reed-dubai-classic-b2269544.html) after an interaction — of sorts — at the practice range Tuesday that saw McIlroy snub Reed. Reed bogeyed the 16th but made birdie at 18 to put pressure on McIlroy, who finished on 19-under overall. The top-ranked McIlroy rolled in a birdie putt from around 15 feet at the 18th for a four-under round of 68 that left him a stroke clear of Reed, who shot 65.

A birdie on the par-five 18th landed the title for McIlroy as he finished on 19-under, one shot clear of Reed. McIlroy finished with a final round of four-under ...

McIlroy finished with a final round of four-under 68 after holding a three-shot lead going into the Monday finish. [#RolexSeries] [pic.twitter.com/0EUNeTQKgN] [January 30, 2023] [pic.twitter.com/8d2Q3s54K4] [January 30, 2023]

Rory McIlroy will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after a late blunder gave the chasing pack renewed hope of ...

[PGA Tour](https://www.golf365.com/category/pga-tour/) But it’s nice to know that there are people out there wishing me well.” [LPGA Tour](https://www.golf365.com/category/lpga-tour/) [News](https://www.golf365.com/category/news/) “It was pretty cool, a very unique experience,” Bradbury said. It was great having a lot of people out there. I love this tournament, I’ve won here a couple of times. I’m converting, and that’s the reason I’m on the score that I am. I still don’t feel quite in control of my game. I love this golf course. The resulting 65 gave McIlroy a total of 15 under par, with England’s Callum Shinkwin and Dan Bradbury his nearest challengers on 12 under. I held it together.

Patrick Reed of the U.S. plays his second shot on the 9th hole during the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, ...

Lucia St. Kitts and Nevis St. Helena St.

Rory McIlroy came through an enthralling final-round tussle with rival Patrick Reed to claim a dramatic victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and make a ...

Reed edged ahead for the first time with a kick-in birdie at the 13th, as McIlroy two-putted from 20 feet on the same par-five and then got up and down from a greenside bunker to save par at the next and remain at 18 under. Reed clenched his fist in celebration after holing from 10 feet to save par at the ninth and remain at 14 under, as McIlroy ended a run of pars and doubled his advantage by signing off his front nine with an eight-foot birdie. McIlroy opened with three two-putt pars and scrambled to avoid dropping a shot at the par-three fourth after narrowly finding water off the tee, as Reed followed a birdie at the second by rolling in from 20 feet at the par-five next to close within two.

Rory McIlroy held off a dramatic final-day surge from Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic for the third time on Monday.

The most satisfying thing is I haven’t had my best, far from it, and to be able to win when you don’t have your best, that’s the holy grail of what we are trying to do.” Somehow the fractured world of golf felt much a better place. 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’s first dropped stroke of the day, at 16, restored parity before McIlroy landed what looked the major blow with a birdie at the penultimate hole. Last year, the 72nd hole of the Desert Classic cost McIlroy victory. “He looked through it and he identified it exactly the same way I did.” “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. [correctly identified his ball in the branches of a palm tree](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/29/dp-world-tour-clarifies-rules-after-patrick-reed-penalty-drop-controversy) during round three. I’ve stood and defended Patrick in some of the controversies.” I want to win for my legacy and leaving my mark on the game. When McIlroy’s role as the unofficial voice of golf’s establishment against the rebel LIV tour, of which Reed is a part, is factored in it became easy to sense this meant more than a trophy. From Teegate to Treegate to a denouement that was well worth the wait.

Rory McIlroy overcame a final-round charge from Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic in a tense Monday duel between players who were involved in a ...

... A really good foundation for the year." Honestly it has been a battle all week," McIlroy said. "It was a battle all day. "I managed my game well, lots of room for improvements. 16 but made birdie at No. Reed bogeyed No.

Rory McIlroy held off a stern challenge from Patrick Reed to win his first start of the year at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

He reached his ball just as Reed two-putted for birdie to join him in the lead. He then clipped his 92 yard pitch to 15ft, needing the putt to win or else face a playoff. "It means a lot," McIlroy said. Fortunately for the Down golfer, his ball held up in the rough just shy of the water. "It was a battle all day, it's been a battle all week. As Reed tapped in for a birdie-4 on the 18th green to tie the lead at 18-under, McIlroy, who dunked his second shot to 18 in the water on

Your lunchtime update: Homelessness in Ireland is now beyond crisis point, says Fr Peter McVerry; and Minister of State for Integration Joe O'Brien has ...

A suicide bomber has struck inside a mosque in the north-west Pakistan city of Peshawar, [Rory McIlroy has won the Dubai Desert Classic title for the third time in his career](https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/rory-mcilroy-wins-dubai-desert-classic-title-after-seeing-off-the-challenge-of-patrick-reed-1425605.html) on Monday morning after seeing off the challenge of rival Patrick Reed. [record high](https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/young-woman-found-sleeping-in-tumble-dryer-as-homeless-figures-hit-record-high-1424820.html) of 11,632 people are homeless in the Republic according to the latest official tally – which also show almost 3,500 children were in emergency accommodation for Christmas. “I was shocked, I was disgusted,” Joe O’Brien said of the incident in Ashtown. [has said he is “shocked” and “disgusted”](https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/attack-on-group-of-homeless-migrants-in-dublin-worrying-integration-minister-1425644.html) at reports of an attack on a group of homeless migrants who had set up camp by a Dublin river. The "real number" of homeless people in the country was likely double or triple the official figures, he told Newstalk radio.

World number one Rory McIlroy won his third Dubai Desert Classic title on Monday after he shot a final round of 68 to finish at 19-under overall, ...

A really good foundation for the year." "I managed my game well, lots of room for improvements... Honestly it has been a battle all week.

The world number one birdied the final two holes to shoot a four-under 68 and finish on 19 under to win by one shot. Northern Irishman McIlroy ...

It's a great start to the year." That led to a scruffy double-bogey finish and 13 under overall. He then hit a solid wedge shot in and let out a tremendous roar after holing the birdie putt. However, up ahead Reed had problems after a wayward drive on the par-four 16th. It set the tone for the week with fans keen to see McIlroy and Reed paired together at some point. "Mentally it was very tough," McIlroy told BBC Sport, referring to his rivalry with Reed.

Rory McIlroy held off a brilliant challenge from Patrick Reed to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for a third time in dramatic circumstances.

The tap-in eagle took Reed into a share of the lead and, although McIlroy two-putted the same hole for birdie, Reed also birdied the 11th to get back on level terms. “It was a battle all day, it’s been a battle all week. “It means a lot,” McIlroy said.

The final round in the Middle East was pushed back a day after rain interfered with play late last week.

But the Texas native did putt for a birdie to finish 18-under-par for the week before McIlroy left himself with a putt to win the tournament. The American then held his nerve to par the 17th before McIlroy sank a birdie putt on the same hole to take a one-shot lead into the final hole. McIlroy dropped a shot after narrowly missing a putt on the 15th hole, but Reed also dropped a shot on 16 to leave the pair level at the top of the leaderboard. But a final round of 68 just saw McIlroy edge out his rival in the Middle East as he sunk a huge putt on the final hole to clinch victory. The world number one narrowly avoided the water from his tee shot on the 18th as he watched Reed miss an eagle putt on the same hole. The Holywood native had a three-shot lead going into the final round after a late blunder on Sunday gave the chasing pack renewed hope of preventing his third win in the event.

World No. 1 McIlroy and Reed were involved in a dispute at the start of the tournament and they battled until the end to see who would emerge victorious.

By the 14th hole they were level on 18-under par. "I'm living in reality, I don't know where he's living. It's a great start to the year and a really good foundation to work from." "I'm going to enjoy this. "It was a battle all day. Honestly it's been a battle all week.