McIlroy wins Dubai World Championship
BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press
Monday, November 26, 2012
11/26/12 at 5:58 AM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Rory McIlroy made five straight birdies down the stretch to overtake Justin Rose and win the Dubai World Championship on Sunday, ending a historic year in which the 23-year-old Northern Irishman won the PGA Championship and the European and PGA tour money titles.
The top-ranked McIlroy recovered from early putting woes to finish at 6-under 66 for a total 23-under 265 at the season-ending tournament. Rose, who was tied for seventh after three rounds, surged down the stretch into contention after shooting a course-record 62 that included an eagle and eight birdies.
"I just wanted to finish the season the way I thought I deserved to finish the season," McIlroy said after holing a birdie on 18 and raising his arms in the air in celebration. "You know, I played so well throughout the year and I didn't want to just let it tail off sort of timidly. I wanted to come here and finish in style."
Second-ranked Luke Donald (71) was tied for third with Charl Schwartzel (68) of South Africa. Louis Oosthuizen (69) was another shot back in fifth.
The day was supposed to be a duel between McIlroy and Donald, who were tied for the lead after the third round. The Englishman grabbed an early two-shot lead when McIlroy bogeyed the first and Donald birdied the second.
But then Donald three-putted the third to end a streak of 102 holes on the Earth Course without a bogey to give McIlroy a chance. He then had another bogey on No. 12 to fall three back and never challenged after that, missing the green on the 17th to end his chances.
In the meantime, Rose was climbing up the leaderboard.
The Englishman pulled within one of McIlroy with a birdie and then moved ahead with an eagle on No. 14 after his approach shot rolled to within 10 feet. He sank it for his first lead of the tournament and doubled his advantage when McIlroy three-putted on the 13th.
Rose had another birdie before his 60-foot eagle putt came within inches of the cup on No. 18, and he settled for birdie. Then, he had to wait.
At No. 17, McIlroy hit what was probably the shot of his tournament, landing a 5-iron within a few feet of the pin.
Original Print Headline: McIlroy wins Dubai tournament in style
DP World Tour Championship
At Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth Course)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Purse: $8 million. Yardage: 7,675 Par: 72
Final
| Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland |
66-67-66-66 - 265 |
| Justin Rose, England |
68-68-69-62 - 267 |
| Luke Donald, England |
65-68-66-71 - 270 |
| Charl Schwartzel, South Africa |
68-67-67-68 - 270 |
| Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa |
67-67-68-69 - 271 |
| Branden Grace, South Africa |
69-65-70-68 - 272 |
| Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand |
68-69-68-68 - 273 |
| Henrik Stenson, Sweden |
68-68-69-68 - 273 |
| Sergio Garcia, Spain |
73-64-73-64 - 274 |
| F. Andersson Hed, Sweden |
67-69-72-66 - 274 |
| Padraig Harrington, Ireland |
67-71-68-68 - 274 |
| G. Fernandez-Castano, Spain |
66-72-68-68 - 274 |
| Jamie Donaldson, Wales |
68-68-69-69 - 274 |
Associated Images:
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the trophy after he won the DP World Championship on Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. KAMRAN JEBREILI / Associated Press
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