McIlroy bounces back from Fleetwood heartbreak with record-breaking win in Dubai

21 January 2024 , 13:02

1065     0

Rory McIlroy won a fourth Dubai Desert Classic (Image: (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images))

Rory McIlroy has once again wrote himself into the history books after winning a record fourth Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

McIlroy carded an impressive 14-under-par across the four days to overturn 54-hole leader Cameron Young and defend the title he won for a third time last year. The Northern Irishman had entered the weekend 10 shots behind leader Young, but a superb nine-under 63 on Saturday saw him move within two.

And the Northern Irishman - defending the title he won last year - showed exactly why he is an expert around the Majlis course, overturning the American's lead inside the opening nine holes before not looking back after the turn.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy hoping to learn from Masters mistake after storming into contention in Dubai

A birdie at the second hole of the day got the ball rolling for the Northern Irishman, as he kicked off his chase for the lead. Young meanwhile was struggling to keep the defending champion at arms length, bogeying the fourth and sixth to allow the Northern Irishman to move ahead.

Golf star rants over Patrick Reed tree shot and says LIV rebel 'f****** cheated'

McIlroy capitalised perfectly, adding birdies at the eighth and ninth to move him one step closer to a fourth win. Young was quick to get himself back in it with a birdie at 10, but bogey mistakes at 11 and 12 saw him give two shots back to the course, a real let off for McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman did begin to open the door slightly midway through his back nine, as a mistake off the tee at the par-five 13th resulted in bogey. Pars were enough to keep his head just above water though, despite Adrian Meronk's best efforts, who also started the day a two-under.

Rory McIlroy won the event for a record fourth time

Down but not out, Young then joined Meronk in a tie for second with two holes to play after the American rolled in a superb birdie putt from 25-feet at the par-four 16th. Exactly one week earlier McIlroy found himself heading up the 18th of the Dubai Invitational one shot ahead of Tommy Fleetwood, before agonisingly missing out on the title with a bogey at the 72nd hole.

Seven days later he found himself in the same situation, after Meronk made birdie at the final hole in the penultimate group of the day to reduce the lead back to one. Fortunately for the four-time major winner there was no such drama this time, as he made a par at the final hole to ensure it was win No. 4 at Emirates Golf Club.

It caps off a superb first two weeks of the season for the Northern Irishman, who has a second place and win to his name before the end of January. His attention will move Stateside, with his first PGA Tour event of the year coming at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on February 1.

Joshua Lees