Rory McIlroy’s delight in cruising to an effortless second Omega Dubai Desert Classic title was clearly derailed as his attention now turns to tomorrow’s (TUES) Dublin High Court showdown,
The World No. 1 looked very much in control inside the ropes of the Emirates Club course holing out for par at the last in a round of 70 to comfortably win by three shots, and also equalling the tournament record of 22-under par.
Sweden’s Alex Noren, and with Prestwick caddy Mark Crane calling the shots, fired a best round 65 to grab second place at 19-under par.
Rory McIlroy sends out a message to his PGA Tour rivals … ‘if you are going to beat me, you will have to play better’. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
And double Dubai winning Stephen Gallacher should move well inside the top-30 on the World Rankings after a gritty 69 to secure third on 15-under par.
It has taken McIlroy 25 weeks since capturing the third of three events in succession, and also ending a run of three second place results, to win in Dubai and where he savoured a first pro career success in 2009.
However when asked if his thoughts now turned to matters in Dublin set to grab the front pages rather than sports headlines McIlroy smiled in remarking: “Let me enjoy this win for an hour or two, first.”
The victory is McIlroy’s 10th European Tour success and his 16th win worldwide and despite the clear distractions this week in the Irish capital, the 14-time Major winner will then head to the States an even hotter favourite to capture the season’s first Major in just over two months at Augusta National.
He said: “It is just a matter of keeping my golf ticking over as I have done a lot of good work these past few weeks here in the Middle East, and I now have three off, but then I guess I don’t want to have three weeks of hitting balls, so I will have at least a good week of preparation prior to the Honda Classic,” he said.
“But then it is going to be nice getting back to the States and back into my own house, and get back into a routine of practice and stuff over there.
“Of course, the Masters is still a couple of months away so I would like to keep the run going, and there is no reason why I shouldn’t, so it will be a matter of keeping on top of things and not getting complacent.”
Rory McIlroy in now his customary throwing his winning golf ball into the crowd. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Though when McIlroy does tee-up for a first time this year on the PGA Tour later this month at the Honda Classic where he lost out in a play-off last year, there is a message to all his rivals.
He said: “The message is that I come to tournaments to win every week, and why it’s not like me to be sending out messages to people but I guess if they are going to beat me, they are going to have to play well.
“I enter every tournament with the thought I want to win, and that will be no different heading to the States or heading to whatever tournament it is. I feel I am in a place now with my game that if I turn up with a game I know that I have, that I’ll have a decent chance and at least try to get myself into contention.”
