Today's Edition
Dubai (Aletihad)
Rory McIlroy secured his place in the history books by winning a record-setting fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic (HDDC) title with a one-shot victory as the 35th edition of the illustrious event came to a thrilling close on Sunday at Emirates Golf Club.
The Rolex Series Event once again attracted thousands of fans on the fourth and final day, with crowds watching on as McIlroy held his nerve to finish 14-under and successfully defend his Dallah Trophy, ahead of Adrian Meronk by a single shot. He is the second golfer to retain the title after Stephen Gallacher, and adds to his 2009, 2015 and 2023 triumphs.
"It's really cool," said McIlroy, who recorded his first win as a professional in the tournament in 2009. "I didn't think about that [fourth win] during the round. It was a really tricky day. It was hard to get it close and make a ton of birdies.
"The pivotal point for me came on the eighth and ninth holes. Making two threes there, that sort of set me up to try to control it on the way in.
He said after "that one blunder on 13" he "steadied the ship well over the last few holes".
"It was one of those days where there wasn't a ton of fireworks just because the course was so difficult, but I held on as best as I could and thankfully, no one around the top of the leaderboard made much of a run."
McIlroy was presented the Dallah trophy by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
McIlroy went into the final day standing two shots off the lead and made three birdies in his first nine. The world No.2 suffered a minor blip with a bogey on the 13th hole, but made par for the last nine to shoot 70 for the title.
He said: “It’s really cool to win. It was a really tricky day and it was hard to get it close and make a ton of birdies.
“The pivotal point for me came on the 8th and 9th hole. Making two threes there set me up to try to control it on the way in.
“I made that one blunder on the 13th, but felt like I steadied the ship well over the last few holes, and it was one of those days where there wasn’t a ton of fireworks just because the course was so difficult, but I held on as best as I could and thankfully no one around the top of the leaderboard made much of a run.”
Runner-up Meronk had a mixed day with five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey while overnight leader Cameron Young’s quest for his maiden DP World Tour title goes on after registering 74 on the final day to finish 12-under.
