Tommy Fleetwood edges past Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy to win the Dubai Invitational as the British ace beams ‘I was playing very, very well’ after Middle East victory
- Tommy Fleetwood secured the Dubai Invitational title on Sunday afternoon
- The British star got past Rory McIlroy who made a mistake on the 18th hole
- Fleetwood was delighted after taking a first event win of the new year
Sinking a 16ft last-place putt, Tommy Fleetwood completed a dramatic win at the Dubai Invitational on Sunday. For the other half of the ‘Fleetwood Mac’ couple who trembled at the Ryder Cup, there was the regret of a lost tournament with one wild drive and a few careless putts.
When Rory McIlroy stood on the final tee for his 72nd hole, he had a one-stroke lead over his English playing partner and great friend at 19 under par.
At the time he was fast approaching a victory in his first event of the year, but a big hook saw him drag his ball into the water hazard that runs along the 18th at Dubai Creek Resort. His closing bogey opened a door for Fleetwood, who stormed past the Northern Irishman to hole a long birdie putt to claim his seventh DP World Tour title with a shot.
“I’m very happy,” said Fleetwood, a Dubai resident. ‘It was great to win. Like almost everyone in the golf world, I don’t win nearly as much as I would like, but the feeling of winning is just amazing.
‘This is obviously where I live and where I have a lot of support. It’s great to start the year with a great result and go from there.
Tommy Fleetwood claimed a dramatic victory at the Dubai Invitational on Sunday
Fleetwood finished ahead of Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy at the Middle East event
“I was really happy with the way I played most of the round today, I felt like I hadn’t holed some of the putts I wanted to make. I stayed patient and kept playing. I knew I was playing very, very well.”
So did McIlroy in the week he opened with a 62. His final 67 matched Fleetwood’s, but also left room for some regret. His play off the tee was erratic for much of the round, including an earlier shot that was put into the water on the sixth, and he also blew the momentum of three consecutive birdies from the 11th by three-putting from two feet on the 14th .
Fleetwood produced a 15-foot putt on the final hole to beat McIlroy and claim victory
“I’m very happy for Tommy,” said McIlroy, who shared second place with South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.
‘Tommy has played fantastic golf this past year without actually winning.
“So if he gets the win here it will be great for him and it will be a huge boost to his confidence.
“I think you can expect to see some of those sloppy mistakes again in the first week, and unfortunately for me those mistakes came at the wrong time. I just need to clean up some edges.”