McIlroy’s Simple Three-Word Message Post A 13th Top-3 Finish In 19-Years Starting A New Year

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“Hit more fairways”.

This was Rory McIlroy’s simple three-word message post the Dubai Invitational after going so close to just a second victory in 19-years at a first tournament of a New Year.

The Grand Slam winning McIlroy was struggling early on, posting a 10th bogey of the four days when he bogeyed the seventh hole at the host Dubai Creek Golf Club course.

He earlier had birdied the third but for a second day running, McIlroy bogeyed the fourth hole before finding a greenside bunker at the seventh and walking off with a bogey.

It seemed McIlroy’s chances of going one place better in the event that he had finished joint runner-up in 2024, was heading for a similiar scenario in 2026.

Though as they always say in golf, the tournament does not commence to the back nine on the final day, because McIlroy had fans soon on their feet, brilliantly draining a 24-footer for birdie at the par-4 ninth, and the start of a magic run of five birdies in succession for McIlroy.

And it could easily had been six in succession as his 30-footer second shot at the par-3 14th stopped right on the edge of the hole.

Dissppointing for Rors the birdies dried-up, ending his campaign with five closing pars and a round of 68 to eventually share third place at eight-under to be tied with Spaniard David Puig (67), Frenchman Julien Guerrier (66) and a gutted Shane Lowry (69).

Lowry looked all set to capture the title having found the fairway down the 72nd only to find a left greenside bunker but in playing a third he got a flyer that found water from where the double winning Ryder Cup star chipped to five-feet with his fourth and two-putt for a ‘6’.

McIlroy was at the back of the 18th ready to congratulate his fellow double Ryder Cup winning friend but it wasn’t to be.

The World No. 2 ranked McIlroy is remaining in Dubai for this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, an event he knows where to win having been handed the stunning trophy first in 2009 and then again in 2015, 2023 and also in 2024.

So, what areas of his game does McIlroy consider he needs to work on in returning to the Emirates Golf Club.

“Hit a few more fairways”, was McIlroy’s reply.

“I don’t think I’m hitting the club that badly. It’s just maybe some strategy off the tee. I was hitting driver a lot this week, more for practice than anything else. Next week at the Emirates, it’s obviously important to get the ball in the fairway and give yourself chances from there.

“But yeah, I think that was maybe a little bit of distance control. Felt like I was figuring that out as the week went on but short game and putting felt good, which is a really good sign. Just tidy up the ball-striking a little bit, and I’ll hopefully be right there next week”.

In the now 19 years since McIlroy commenced a New Year as a pro, winning his first event of the year just once, and that being the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Though in these near two decades, he’s produced a remarkable record of New Year ‘first tournament’ achievements:

  • First: One (2023)
  • Second:  Six (2024, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012 and 2011.
  • Third:  Six (2026, 2021, 2010, 2018, 2016 and 2010)
  • Top 10s:  Three (T4th 2025, T4th 2014, T5th 2009)
  • Other results:  Three (T11th 2008, T12th 2022, MC 2013)

(NB – Turned pro in late 2007)



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