McIlroy’s one-stroke victory over England’s Andy Sullivan capped an impressive recovery by the Northern Irishman after ruptured ankle ligaments denied him the chance to defend his British Open title in July.
Advertisement
Andy Sullivan remained the man to catch in the final round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, despite the best efforts of world number three Rory McIlroy.
When the Midlander’s putter went dry McIlroy put his foot down to earn a two-shot lead but he was in danger of losing that when at the par three 17th he pulled his six iron into water 40 yards left of his target line.
The Englishman was looking for a fourth win of the year having followed his two early-season wins in South African with victory in Portugal last month, but couldn’t keep the world No 3 at bay with a four-under 68. He also won the European Tour Order of Merit title in 2012 and 2014. He also became the DP World Tour champion for the second time and the European No 1 for the third time.
“I think it’s a lost year already, just because I didn’t win a major”, McIlroy said in September at the Tour Championship. I got a few bad kicks here and there like on 16th. “The birdies on the 14th and 15th were definitely a turning point and I managed to get myself out of a hole with the bogey on 17”.
It would be remiss to ignore Sullivan’s contribution to day four here. “I have to give a lot of credit to him. From two behind I knew it was going to be tough”, Sullivan said. Just to come up head to head with someone of Rory’s quality, it was absolutely awesome and something that will stick with me for a long time.
For Sullivan second place guaranteed the largest cheque of his career ($888,880) and a career-best overall placing of eighth in The Race to Dubai.
“I think of all the four days I played the best golf today. I feel like my game is back to the level I can be at”. Every time he holed a putt, I holed one straight after.
“Probably not – probably not within the next 48 hours”, said McIlroy, who now has four European Tour titles (he has 11 on the PGA Tour), including four in Dubai.
“To be European No. 1, yeah, that was a goal of mine at the start of the year”. “Unfortunately we are going to come up shy by one on the Race to Dubai but hopefully next year we’re in a similar position and can try and change the story”.
“The money doesn’t motivate me the way trophies do”.
Advertisement
England’s Danny Willett (70) gave it his all, but ran out of the holes towards the end and two late bogeys meant he finished tied for the fourth place at 13-under par 275.
