Rory McIlroy beats tee-gate rival Patrick Reed by ONE SHOT to win the Dubai Desert Classic with a nerveless birdie on the final hole
Rory McIlroy beat Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic, having taken a one-shot lead into the final hole on Monday.
The Northern Irishman sealed the victory in a thrilling final round that saw him sink a Birdie putt to win by one shot on the decisive 18th hole.
His American rival sealed a Birdie to finish at -18 after missing out on a difficult chance to seal an Eagle from 35 yards, but left his rival needing a birdie to win it.
Rory McIlroy sealed a sensational third Dubai Desert Open title after beating Patrick Reed
McIlroy took a slender one-shot lead over his rival heading into the final hole on Monday
A par on the final hole would force a play-off, and McIlroy almost sent his ball into the wet but came up just short of the water hazard in a shaky start for the man going into the final hole with the slender lead.
He then left himself a tricky up-and-down to put himself in pole position to seal the win without needing the play-off, but gave himself the best chance of doing exactly that with the ball just 15 feet short for the Birdie.
After sitting down on his haunches to study the green ahead of the crucial stroke, he sent it straight into the heart of the hole before rising an arm in celebration.
Patrick Reed had put the pressure back onto McIlroy with a Birdie of his own on the final hole
In doing so, McIlroy sealed a sensational third Dubai Desert Open title, beating his bitter rival in the process.
The pair have been locked in a bitter dispute that began after the newly-crowned champion appeared to ignore the American at a driving range, only for the snubbed Reed to throw a tee at him in retaliation.
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