Tommy Fleetwood edges Rory McIlroy to clinch Dubai victory

Tommy Fleetwood birdied the final two holes to win the Dubai Invitational by one shot from Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence on Sunday.

It was a rollercoaster round from McIlroy, who led by a shot going into the last hole but hooked into the water and carded a bogey.

Overnight leader Fleetwood capitalised as he drained his birdie putt to post a four-under 67 and finish on 19 under.

South Africa’s Lawrence set the clubhouse target after a superb 64.

Englishman Fleetwood held a one-shot lead over world number two McIlroy going into the final round and extended his advantage to three after the opening 10 holes.

McIlroy, who also found water on the front nine, birdied the 11th, 12th and 13th to go level with Fleetwood but faltered on the 14th green with a three-putt bogey from just three feet.

The four-time major winner bounced back with an excellent birdie on 15 and moved in front when Fleetwood dropped a shot at the next hole.

Both player birdied the 17th but McIlroy hooked his drive left at the final hole and could only manage a bogey.

That gave Fleetwood the chance to win it from 10 feet and he kept his nerve to hole it and take the win with McIlroy in a tied for second with Lawrence.

“It was great – I was very happy with the way I played today but for a large majority of the round I felt like I didn’t hole some of the putts that I wanted to,” Fleetwood told Sky Sports.

“It was great watching one the world’s greatest golfers in Rory, the way he was playing the back nine, the way he was attacking the back nine.

“It was just up and down at the end – a sloppy bogey on 16 from not that bad an iron shot and then birdie-birdie on 17 and 18. I played very well, I was hitting it very solid [but] looked looked distinctly average on that back nine compared to the way Rory was playing.

“But I felt very in control of my game. It was just a case of staying patient. I think on 14 Rory – it was unexpected for hom not to just roll that in for another birdie but again you just watched him bounce back on 15 and the shot on 16 and the way he played 17.

“For me, I knew I was playing very well and I played 17 and 18 great.”

McIlroy was playing for the first time since November, will remain in the Middle East next week to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title.

“I think for the first week back out it was a really positive week,” he said.

“I’m looking back on today. I put a tee shot in the water with an iron on the front nine, I had that three-putt from three feet on the par three (14th) and then the water ball on the last.

“First week back out you’re going to expect some of those sloppy mistakes and unfortunately for me those mistakes came at the wrong time.

“I’ll reflect on it and learn from today – there was still a lot of good stiff in there but I just have to tidy up some of the edges. If I do that I feel good going into next week.”