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England’s Tyrrell Hatton said it was “a dream come true” after the LIV Golf player continued his remarkable form on the European Tour on Sunday by winning the Dubai Desert Classic as Rory McIlroy’s valiant effort to win the title three years in a row failed.
On the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club, the 33-year-old Englishman holed a nerve-wracking five-foot putt on the 18th to remain one ahead of overnight leader New Zealander Daniel Hillier (71) , who had reduced the gap with a shot with his own birdie on the par 5 final hole.
Although he started the day with a bogey, Hatton closed with a solid three-under-par 69 for a total of 15-under-par. His fifth Rolex Series victory ties him with his LIV Golf captain Jon Rahm for the most wins in the high-events version of the European Tour supported by DP World.
The Englishwoman Laurie Canter (68 years old) occupied the only third place at 13 under.
McIlroy shot a 66, with five birdies on the back nine, to move into a tie for fourth place alongside Danish sensation Niklas Norgaard (66).
Hatton, who is playing on the DP World Tour because he appealed his fines (for playing on LIV Golf) and did not resign his membership, is expected to move from 17th to eighth in the world rankings golf when it is updated. Monday.
“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous on the back nine, to be honest. I guess I wanted it maybe a little too much. I knew the position I was in, and I was a little scruffy in the last one “But to see that putt go in, it was amazing,” Hatton said.
“I said it earlier in the week, this is one of the events you’d love to have on your CV. It’s such an iconic event for the DP World Tour. To add my name to the list of incredible champions who came before me, it’s a dream come true.”
McIlroy said he was pleased with the way he played this weekend in his first start of the year.
“I probably left myself a little too much to do after three days. I had chances and I was burning around the edges,” McIlroy said.
“I felt like I rode pretty well without anything going in and today I didn’t really feel like I was playing any different than how I’ve been playing the last few days.
“I just made a few putts and made some good ups and downs when I needed to. I feel like I’m gradually improving as the week goes on, which bodes well for the next few weeks. “
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