Rory McIlroy’s frustration boiled over in a never seen before manner when he nearly tore the Nike shirt off his shoulders following a dismal final round 74 at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship here in Dubai.
McIlro, and in his penultimate event of the year, slumped from the overnight lead at 14-under par to settle for a distant share of sixth place at 12-under par on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Estates.
The four-time major champion was looking to become the first three-time winner of the DP World crown though McIlroy opened the door on his rivals to be just one-under par through 14-holes ahead of a closing four holes in dropping shots at the 15th, 16th and the last.
Rory McIlroy and with his shirt clearly torn from his shoulder while in the scorers hut following his dismal final round of 74 at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. (Photograph must be credited @TourMiss)
McIlroy found a greenside bunker with his approach shot into the 15th for bogey, three-putted the 16th also for bogey and then at the last, and a hole he had doubled on day two, his drive was well into trees down the right side of the hole and close to houses from where he managed to get his ball back to the fairway only to see it trickle into the water that splits the entire 18th fairway ahead of walking off with a bogey to be one-over for par-5 for the four rounds.
It was a day sadly for McIlroy he was beaten down the stretch and it became clear McIlroy was not about to stop for a fireside chat folowing hie round though sight of him climbing the stairs to the scorer’s hust with the right side of his shirt hanging off his shoulders was entirely unexpected.
He exited the scorer’s hut area down the same staircase and thus avoiding any waiting media contact and proceeded to access the nearby Jumeirah Estates clubhouse via a side door rather than the normal access door for the past two weeks the Tour had been at the club.
McIlroy later changed into a new shirt and ending his year 19th on the Race to Dubai standings and one place higher than a year ago.
He has one event remaining this year and that is the December 2nd commencing Tiger Woods hosted Hero World Challenge at the Bahamas and while McIlroy has contested the event in the past, it will be a first showing on the Albany course in Nassau.
