The 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic’s final round was a fitting capsulation of the week at Emirates Golf Club. It was a battle between Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed.
After an incident at the range where Reed tossed McIlroy’s LIV Golf Tee earlier in the week, they found themselves locked in a battle down the stretch on Monday. This lasted until the 72 nd hole.
McIlroy was four shots behind Reed at the start of the day, but Reed managed to get in the mix thanks five birdies and an Eagle over the first 13 holes. McIlroy was 18 under when Reed made a costly par-4 16th hole bogey. However, he birdied the last hole to tie McIlroy. McIlroy was par on his first eight holes, before adding birdies on Nos. 9, 10, and 13. The world’s No. The only problem of the day was at No. 15 but McIlroy recovered with two clutch birdies on the final two holes to win the one-shot victory at 19 under.
McIlroy praised McIlroy’s mental strength and said, “I think mentally today is probably the hardest round I’ve ever played because it would have been really easy to let emotions get in my way. I just had to focus on myself.” “Forget about who was on the leaderboard. I did that really, really well.”
Playing the 18th under pressure #HeroDDC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/JYruu8BKfr
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour January 30, 2023
“I’m going enjoy this. Although this is likely sweeter than it needs to be, I still feel like there are some things I need to do,” he said. It’s a fantastic start to the year, and it gives me a solid foundation from which to build.
McIlroy won his third Dubai Desert Classic title. However, it was also a career first. McIlroy is now a 15-time winner of the DP World Tour. This week’s win was also his first Rolex Series victory and the first time he won his opening of a new calendar year. McIlroy turned professional in 2007 and was 0-16. He had 12 top-five finishes during his first year of being a professional.
McIlroy stated, “Just thrilled that I gave myself a chance the first week back out.” McIlroy stated, “I feel like there is a lot of room for improvement, but it’s still a great start to this year.”
McIlroy will admit that he hasn’t been at his best by his standards but McIlroy entered the week in a strong form. McIlroy has not finished lower than T-4 in his seven previous starts since his October Tour Championship win.
He said, “I think again, the most satisfying thing for me this week was I haven’t been my best, far away from it, and to be capable of winning when you don’t feel your best, that is the kind of Holy Grail of the things we are trying to accomplish.”
McIlroy posted rounds of 66-70-65-668 and only five bogeys at Dubai. McIlroy is the FedEx Cup and Race To Dubai champion. Expect wild 2023.
