Tommy Fleetwood held off a determined challenge from Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence to win the Dubai Invitational in a thrilling final day which saw the lead see-saw.
Fleetwood's bid for his first title since November 2022 was in major doubt when he bogeyed the 16th and his Ryder Cup team-mate McIlroy birdied the 17th for the solo lead. But the world No.2 then drove into the water at the last as he went on to make a bogey and finish -18.
It gave Fleetwood, who lives in Dubai, the chance to win it outright with a birdie at the last with the final putt of the tournament to get to -19 as he otherwise faced a play-off with McIlroy and Lawrence, who was in the clubhouse on -18.
Fleetwood,32, the world No.15, said: "It feels amazing. I was very happy with the way I played today. For a large majority of the round I felt like I didn't hole some of the putts I wanted to but I felt very in control of my game and it was a case of staying patient. I don't win nearly as much as I would like to and it is obviously where I live and have a lot of support."
McIlroy said: "There were a couple of little mental errors in there which I hope I will clean up. It was back and forth and a great day with Tommy. I am really happy for him. He has played some incredible golf the last year without getting the win. It was a good battle."
Dubai Invitational Leaderboard
- -19 Fleetwood
- -18 McIlroy, Lawrence
- -16 Smith
Updates from...
Hello and welcome to Sunday's final round of the Dubai Invitational! It's set to be a thrilling final round at Dubai Creek GC with two absolute Ryder Cup juggernauts at the top - but who will be lifting the trophy at the end of the day? Stay with us to find out...
McILROY AND FLEETWOOD HIT FINAL SHOTS ON RANGE BEFORE CLASH
The final pairing on Sunday at the Dubai Invitational 🤩#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/jzNBmea565January 14, 2024
SOME TESTING FINAL DAY PIN POSITIONS
Thriston Lawrence and South African compatriot Zander Lombard are both underway in the chasing pack. The pair hit the green on the first in regulation only for the ball to slide off into the fringe as they had to settle for pars. A few of the pins out there are placed on shelfs or tucked away. But Francesco Molinari has shown what is possible with birdies on the first three holes to get to -10.
FLEETWOOD WILL HOPE HIS PUTTER IS HOT AGAIN TODAY
Every birdie of @TommyFleetwood1's third round 63 🎥#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/rZEt2tIHseJanuary 13, 2024
STAR DUO UNDERWAY AS BOTH FIND FAIRWAY
The Ryder Cup team-mates and playing partners both smashed their tee shots into the the fairway and strolled off after them chatting away. It is clear this is going to be a friendly rivalry for the opening event of the DP World Tour season. McIlroy went first and thumped his 338 yards before Fleetwood hit it 318 yards.
OPENING PARS FOR THE HEADLINE PAIR
Fleetwood and McIlroy both gave themselves looks at birdies on the first after firing their approaches in with wedges. But neither were able to convert although McIlroy had a great attempt which slid just past the hole.
ANOTHER PAIR OF PARS FOR FLEETWOOD AND McILROY
It is as you were at the top of the leaderboard after the second hole after Fleetwood put his birdie putt past the hole and McIlroy had to settle for a par too after leaving himself a three-foot par putt following an approach which went over the back of the green.
CHASING PACK BUNCH UP AND APPLY PRESSURE
Fleetwood and McIlroy have opened with a pair of pars in the final group but players infront of them are starting to make a move with the most notable being South African duo Lawrence and Lombard who are both -2 after four holes.
BIRDIE CHANCES AT THE THIRD FOR LEADERS WHO TAKE THEM
Fleetwood and McIlroy both had a good chance of an opening birdie on the short 326-yard par four third. The pair smashed drives into the sand infront of the green before splashing out close. World No.2 McIlroy went first to convert his and Fleetwood followed him in to move to -15 and -16 respectively.
First birdie of the day for @McIlroyRory 💪#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/Z8maCYAy3VJanuary 14, 2024
THE FOURTH BEEN A POPULAR BIRDIE HOLE
The fourth has produced 42 birdies already today on the par 5 which is 569 yards. However McIlroy found the sand off the tee and although Fleetwood hit the fairway with a 318 yard effort tee shot, he pulled his approach left of the green. They both may struggle to get a birdie here which would be a missed opportunity.
ZANDER LOMBARD STORMS UP LEADERBOARD
South African Zander Lombard is really applying the pressure after getting to -4 after six holes after a fourth birdie in a row to stand -15 in total. It is impressive stuff from Lombard playing two groups ahead of our final pairing. His compatriot Thriston Lawrence is also playing well at -3 today and they can help spur each other on as the putts go in. They are closing on McIlroy and Fleetwood who could only make pars on the par five fourth after missing short birdie attempts.
FLEETWOOD THROWS A DART IN AT THE PAR 3 FIFTH
Fleetwood and McIlroy both missed short birdie putts at the fourth but have another look at birdie on the short par three fifth which is 152 yards. Fleetwood has hit his approach straight at it to less than six feet despite the pin being tucked at the back and McIlroy is not much further away himself. This time they both converted to get to -16 and -17 respectively as they continue to match each other blow for blow with McIlroy sportingly saying "well done" to compliment his pal and playing partner.
What a golf shot, @TommyFleetwood1! 🎯#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/zIqPPaIYgFJanuary 14, 2024
DISASTER FOR McILROY AT THE PAR FOURTH SIXTH
After an impressive birdie on the fifth, McIlroy is now in danger of dropping a shot after finding the water off the tee with a four iron at the dogleg par four sixth. The world No.2 pulled his shot and was heard to complain about his "four iron this week" after a huge unforced error which will give Fleetwood a chance to extend his lead surely.
Rory finds the water off the 6th tee.#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/suFwBfQ9NEJanuary 14, 2024
HUGE DRAMA AT THE PAR FOUR SIXTH
Fleetwood remains out infront but what drama we have seen at the dog leg sixth. Fleetwood tapped in for par after missing his birdie putt from around 12 foot before McIlroy missed his par putt after finding the water off the tee with a four iron. McIlroy took a penalty drop and put his wedge in to six feet but missed the putt and is now two shots behind his pal Fleetwood. On fire Zander Lombard is now second on -5 for seven holes today.
FLEETWOOD NEEDS HIS PUTTER TO CATCH ALIGHT
McIlroy just avoided a second successive dropped shot with a fine up and down to save par on the seventh after missing the fairway. Leader Fleetwood, who is -2 under six holes, hit a glorious second to about six feet before his birdie putt slid by and he needs to be more clinical with his putter if he is to win his first tournament since his last win 15 months ago.
LOMBARD DISCUSSES BID FOR FIRST DP WORLD TOUR TITLE
Zander Lombard is yet to win on the DP World Tour but the laidback South African appears calm today amid a -4 round after nine holes. Lombard has just been interviewed by Sky Sports and said: "The course is firming up which definitely puts an emphasis on hitting fairways. I've been doing that and hopefully I can keep making birdies. I'm trying to stay aggressive and pour some putts in." That was before he dropped a shot at the ninth where he needed two chips but his second attempt was decent and he still looks a decent outsider if Fleetwood slips up.
FLEETWOOD AND McILROY BOTH MAKE PAR AT TRICKY EIGHTH
The 228-yard par 3 eighth with water on the left has cost a lot of players this week , including McIlroy who put two in the water on Friday to sign for a seven but both Fleetwood and McIlroy hit the green today and made decent pars despite McIlroy's tee shot running through the green into the fringe.
FLEETWOOD MAKES SAND SAVE AT NINTH TO STAY TWO AHEAD
Fleetwood makes an excellent sand save at the 432-yard par four ninth to stay -2 at the turn and keep his two shot lead at the top. While McIlroy's birdie putt just tailed off after a decent second from the rough to the back of the green. He walks off -1 at the turn and needs to catch alight on the back nine as he trails by two shots.
LOMBARD CHIPS IN AGAIN - COULD IT BE HIS DAY?
McIlroy is struggling off the tee with just one fairway hit from seven today as Zander Lombard proves to be Fleetwood's most dangerous rival at the moment. The South African has just chipped in at the 11th, his second holed chip today , to get to -5 after 11 holes - just a shot behind Fleetwood.
FLEETWOOD MAKES ANOTHER UP AND DOWN FROM SAND
Fleetwood's bunker play has been stellar today as he bids for his first title since the Nedbank in November 2022. After his fine up and down from the sand to save par on the ninth, Fleetwood has now splashed out for a tap in birdie on the 10th to stretch his lead at the top to two shots while McIlroy could only make par and is now three shots back.
World class from the sand 👏@TommyFleetwood1 leads by two.#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/QRy43kYty7January 14, 2024
McILROY MAKES BIRDIE AT THE 11TH
McIlroy was in danger of seeing Fleetwood disappear over the horizon but he has made a timely birdie on the 11th after finding the fairway with a 330-yard tee shot before hitting a wedge from 49 yards to four foot to join the South African pair of Lawrence and Lombard two shots behind Fleetwood.
LOMBARD AND LAWRENCE MEAN BUSINESS
Lombard and Lawrence sounds like a law firm but the pair definitely mean business in this final round. The pair are -5 for 13 holes today after both had a chance of birdies at the 13th. Lombard has chipped in twice today and his South African compatriot Lawrence has been holing regular birdie putts to spur each other on. One of these guys looks capable of posting a decent clubhouse total.
McILROY ROLLS IN SECOND SUCCESSIVE BIRDIE
What a final round battle we have on our hands now on the back nine. McIlroy needed something special to kick-start his challenge and he produced it with successive birdies on the 11th and 12th to get to -3 for the day to stand just a shot behind leader and pal Fleetwood. McIlroy rolled in a superb birdie putt from 30 foot on the 12th as Fleetwood had to settle for par.
Back-to-back birdies and @McIlroyRory is just one behind the lead! 💪#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/cEL3NlOUr5January 14, 2024
RORY NOW HAS PAL TOMMY FIRMLY IN HIS SIGHTS AGAIN
DIFFERING APPROACHES ON 13TH FROM FLEETWOOD AND McILROY
Fleetwood and McIlroy are going toe to toe here in Dubai but they took very different approaches to the par 5 13th. Fleetwood opted to attack the 564 yard hole in two with a fairway wood which found a green side bunker. Whereas Rory laid up with his second and wedged in to three foot to make a third successive birdie as Fleetwood had to settle for a par.
McILROY MAKES ASTONISHING BOGEY AT PAR 3 14
McIlroy has remarkably just dropped a shot at the 14th after three putting from two feet. His brilliant tee shot on the 180-yard par three 14th over water was incredible as he smashed it straight down the throat of the flag to tee up a potential fourth successive birdie to take the lead but he shoved his first effort past the hole and missed the one back.
A three putt from two feet for Rory.@TommyFleetwood1 takes the solo lead.#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/hnkgCMpp18January 14, 2024
MOLINARI CARDS IMPRESSIVE -8 ROUND OF 63
Could this be the year we regularly see former Open champion Francesca Molinari back up the top of the leaderboards again? Molinari, who won at Carnoustie in 2018 and then nearly won the Masters too, has lost his shine in recent years but was fabulous today with an -8 round in the opening event of the DP World Tour after being ranked 133 last year with only four cuts made from 11 events. His -15 total here should be enough to secure a top ten finish.
STAGE SET FOR THRILLING FINALE
There is a three-way tie at the top now after McIlroy put his shocking three putt on the 14th behind him with a birdie on 15th following a fine putt to go level with Fleetwood while Lawrence is -7 for his round going up the last.
That is clutch!! 💪@McIlroyRory bounces back from a three putt with a huge birdie at 15 and moves back to the top. #DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/KCP4WC5WbxJanuary 14, 2024
McILROY AND LAWRENCE OUT FRONT AS FLEETWOOD SLIPS UP
Oh dear Tommy Fleetwood. He has had his chances today with plenty of birdie putts but now finds himself trailing after a bogey on the par 3 16th. That has left him a shot behind playing partner McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence, who is in the clubhouse on -18 after a superb final round of-7 with a bogey-free 64 including four birdies on the back nine.
McILROY FIRES IN SUPERB WEDGE TO TAKE LEAD ON 71ST HOLE
It has been a brilliant final day's entertainment in Dubai with the lead ebbing and flowing amid some dramatic twists. Fleetwood has got himself back to -18 with a bounce back birdie on 17 to join Lawrence , who is in the clubhouse. But McIlroy has then just holed out from three feet for a birdie to take the outright lead at -19 with just one hole left
ANOTHER TWIST UP THE LAST AS McILROY FINDS WATER FROM TEE
My goodness, what drama we have had today. McIlroy, who went in the water earlier to drop a shot on the sixth, just birdied the 17th to take the lead only to then go in the water again from tee on the 18th needing a par to win the tournament. Blimey! This could set up a potential play off with Fleetwood or Lawrence perhaps.
Drama at the 72nd hole! 🫣@McIlroyRory finds water down the last. #DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/zWpfowFFKHJanuary 14, 2024
TOURNAMENT COMES DOWN TO FINAL PUTTS ON FINAL HOLE
Fleetwood has a potential putt for the title after McIlroy's poor drive up the last found the water. It leaves McIlroy with a long par putt for -19 and Fleetwood, who is on the same line, could have a much shorter one for the title if McIlroy misses and the Englishman holes. What excitement and if they both miss we are looking at a three-way play-off with Lawrence.
VICTORY FOR FLEETWOOD WHO FINISHES BIRDIE-BIRDIE
What a finish we have had here with Tommy Fleetwood finishing with successive birdies to wrap up the title after Rory McIlroy drove into the water on the last to blow victory as he led by one on the tee.
Birdie-birdie finish.@TommyFleetwood1 wins in Dubai! 🏆#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/pVB4zVhJVEJanuary 14, 2024
