Heading into his 18th full season, world number two golfer Rory McIlroy aimed to secure a win at The Masters and considered the Dubai Invitational as a key part of his preparation, marking it as his ninth or 10th event of the year. McIlroy had a strong start, leading after the first round with a score of -9, 62, and maintaining his lead with a second round of 70 (-1), two strokes ahead. He was tied for the lead at -6 through 12 holes at one point. However, Tommy Fleetwood overtook McIlroy in the final rounds. McIlroy trailed Fleetwood by one stroke going into the final round and ultimately lost the Dubai Invitational by one stroke after Fleetwood secured a clutch birdie. McIlroy's performance included a critical error, three-putting from two feet, and a mistake on the 18th hole, which contributed to his defeat.
A great start to the year 🏆 Congratulations to TGL’s Tommy Fleetwood on his victory in Dubai. https://t.co/YXSMigizyj
Rory McIlroy had an EPIC choke job on Sunday that included three-putting from TWO FEET, and rinsing his tee shot on 18 to lose by one shot to Tommy Fleetwood at the Dubai Invitational. WATCH: https://t.co/Lw2y3q8AO5 https://t.co/4r3beFnoUe
Tommy Fleetwood drains clutch birdie to win Dubai Invitational after going toe-to-toe with Rory McIlroy https://t.co/6OFLaDzVK2
Rory McIlroy rues mistakes after Fleetwood wins Dubai Invitational https://t.co/ULUGtncCSr
Dubai Invitational: Tommy Fleetwood edges Rory McIlroy to clinch Dubai victory https://t.co/zmAVcypx20
Fleetwood fights off McIlroy to win Dubai Invitational https://t.co/gGeYhukxgL https://t.co/6Fvmy01JAR
What a finish 🤩 Tommy Fleetwood pipped his Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy to the Dubai Invitational. #BBCGolf
🚨🏆 Following a Rory McIlroy splash 💧 on 18, Tommy Fleetwood converts a clutch birdie putt to win the Dubai Invitational by one stroke. @FleetwoodLegion https://t.co/LMOVSMMhKh
McIlroy trails leader Fleetwood by one going into final round in Dubai https://t.co/8myEHMXqIQ
Flawless Fleetwood overtakes McIlroy going into final round in Dubai https://t.co/mlbY0ul2js https://t.co/0aB1Aoy0c4
🚨☝️Rory McIlroy is the solo leader at the Dubai Invitational. Rory fired a second round 70 (-1) which gives him a two stroke lead heading into the weekend: “Played not too dissimilarly to the way I played yesterday. I maybe holed a couple more putts yesterday. But the condition… https://t.co/CWqMqu3SSb
🚨☝️Rory McIlroy is the solo leader at the Dubai Invitational. Rory fired a second round 70 (-1) which gives him a two stroke lead heading into the weekend: “Played not too dissimilarly to the way I played yesterday. I may be held a couple more putts yesterday. But the condition… https://t.co/iu8VYsWmHo
🚨☢️👀 Rory McIlroy lit up the course at Dubai Creek Resort, firing a -9, 62 to grab a first round lead. @TrackingRory https://t.co/ELRS1qVYXG
Good drive, good second shot and a good putt gets Rory McIlroy to -6 and tied for the lead again ✅ LFGGGGGG. -6 thru 12 | T1 ✅ https://t.co/xtNWrkodu6
McIlroy searching for ‘final piece of the puzzle’ with major victory in 2024. The world number two is preparing for his 18th full season on tour ahead of the inaugural Dubai Invitational. https://t.co/QwXuaX0v0K
🚨⛳️🌺 Ahead of the Dubai Invitational Rory McIlroy talked about his upcoming schedule & how he’d love to win The Masters: “This year, in fact, I’m going to play more before The Masters. It will be my ninth or 10th event of the year. Previously, it’s been my sixth or seventh.… https://t.co/4dvzlxqHHn
🚨⛳️🌺 Ahead of the Dubai Invitational Rory McIlroy talked about his upcoming schedule & how he’d love to win The Masters: “This year, in fact, I’m going to play more before the Masters. It will be my ninth or 10th event of the year. Previously, it’s been my sixth or seventh.… https://t.co/1h3HJ9hszb