Tyrrell Hatton received the 2025 Dubai Desert Basic as Rory McIlroy charged again to complete fourth on a dramatic closing day on Sunday.
Hatton, who’s prone to be a part of Workforce Europe’s Ryder Cup squad later this yr, continued his sturdy efficiency from final week’s Workforce Cup to say his first Rolex Sequence title since 2021.
The 33-year-old overturned his one-shot deficit to in a single day chief Daniel Hillier to win by one shot on 15 beneath for the match in an exciting end.
“It feels amazing. I said earlier in the week this is one of the events you want to have on your CV. It’s such an iconic event on the DP World Tour,” mentioned Hatton, who competes within the LIV Golf League.
“So as to add my title to the record of wonderful champions earlier than me, to have my title on that trophy is a dream come true.
“I was pretty nervous on the back nine. I guess I wanted it a little bit too much. I knew the position I was in. A bit scruffy on the last but to see that putt go in felt amazing. I’m just so happy to win.”
Hatton was unable to make any inroads in the course of the opening 4 holes as he and Hillier had a bogey and birdie every.
The important thing second of the day got here on the fifth gap when Hillier ended up within the tough and wanted a few chips to get out of hassle. Together with his first chip, he touched the ball once more on his swing however this didn’t depend as one other shot, which Hatton was confused by.
“I actually thought I had the score wrong! He double hit on the chip shot and thought it was an extra shot and I was told before the 13th, and I went ‘oh I thought I was two clear’, not one,” he mentioned.
Tyrrell Hatton received the Hero Dubai Desert Basic for the primary time
Hatton birdied the fifth, whereas Hillier made his second bogey of the day so the Englishman took the lead. Hillier rallied effectively with back-to-back birdies to start out the again 9 to get again inside one, then each gamers bogeyed the twelfth.
Hillier dug in and managed to birdie the final gap, forcing Hatton to make a successful putt of round 5 ft, which he pulled off to grow to be the fifth English golfer to win the Dubai Desert Basic.
McIlroy fights again to fourth
McIlroy was unable to repeat his heroics from final yr of successful from 10 photographs behind, as he settled for joint-fourth with Nikas Norgaard behind Hatton, Hillier and Laurie Canter.
Having completed 2024 off strongly and received the Dubai Desert Basic title a report 4 instances, together with the final two years, McIlroy’s unimpressive opening two days proved expensive.
His six-under 66 on Sunday was three photographs higher than his subsequent greatest spherical this week and was sufficient to maneuver from twelfth to fourth, as he made 5 birdies on the again 9 to complete simply three photographs off Hatton.
Rory McIlroy was unable to make it third successive Dubai Desert Basic titles
“I left myself with too much to do after three days. I had chances and was burning the edges. I felt like I putted pretty well without anything going in,” mentioned McIlroy, who recorded his twelfth consecutive high 10 on the occasion.
“I don’t think I played that differently to the last couple of days, I just held a couple of putts and made a couple of good ups and downs when I had to.
“I really feel like I obtained progressively higher because the week went on, which bodes effectively for the subsequent few weeks.”
McIlroy will next be in action on January 27 in the TGL as his Boston Common Golf side take on Jupiter Links, before he heads to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am on January 30 to February 2 – with both events live on Sky Sports.
Get the most effective costs and e book a spherical at one in every of 1,700 programs throughout the UK & Eire
What’s subsequent in TGL?
The subsequent TGL match sees New York Golf Membership again in motion on January 22 in opposition to Atlanta Drive GC (12am begin UK time), earlier than Jupiter Hyperlinks GC play Rory McIlroy’s Boston Widespread Golf on January 27 (11.30pm begin).
Los Angeles GC subsequent function in opposition to Boston Widespread Golf on Wednesday February 5 (2am begin), with each match of the 2025 and 2026 seasons solely dwell on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and extra with NOW.
Get the most effective costs and e book a spherical at one in every of 1,700 programs throughout the UK & Eire
