Trust Rory McIlroy to make a huge splash in the desert. Golf’s great young entertainer recovered from a “horrendous” shot into the water on the 17th with an outrageous putt to claim the Race To Dubai title with the victory he craved to finish his year on a high.
The £2.15m he pocketed was a mere afterthought after his duel in the sun with the Englishman Andy Sullivan. It was clear from a long way out that he would top the European Tour money list and so lift his third Harry Vardon Trophy in four years. Yet McIlroy wanted more.
A season which featured him rupturing his ankle tendon ended with him straining every competitive sinew to ensure he prevailed in the DP World Tour Championship and so win his fourth title of 2015. No majors, but hardly a minor achievement.
“If hadn't have won I wouldn't have been happy,” McIlroy said after his 66 for a 21-under total. “Of all the goals I wrote down at the start of the season, this is the one I’ve achieved. This the first time I've won since May and I couldn't think of a better way to go into the Christmas break. The last few events, I've come off t frustrated because I really felt I could do better. But I guess I saved the best for last. I’ve finally showed this week what was in there.”
Rory McIlroy looks to have recovered from injury
What is in there is undeniably a fierce sporting heart who bizarrely putts best when under pressure. McIlroy proved that by first hunting down Sullivan and passing him - and then by digging deep when disaster loomed. This was one of the Tour’s great battles, a veritable ding-donger which gripped the impressive galleries lining the Earth Course. It takes two to duel and in Sullivan there was a player who started the year 150th in the world but will close it out in the top 40, knowing that he can mix it with the very best. McIlroy will only concur.
“I knew Andy was a great player - you don't win three times in a season and not be a great player,” McIlroy said. “He really impresses me. He flights the ball really well hits it left-to-right, right-to-left. He's got all the shots and obviously putts very well. He will be real asset in the Ryder Cup.”
Yes, what a prospect England and indeed Europe has in the 29-year-old. He began a shot clear but with three birdies in the first four holes pulled three ahead, with McIlroy three-putting the fourth. “I didn't think Andy was ever going to miss,” McIlroy said, reflecting on the three occasions when Sullivan followed him into the hole after the world No 3 had made birdie.
However, McIlroy began to turn the screw and only an audacious chip-in for par from the back of the ninth green saw Sullivan turn with the advantage. McIlroy pulled level with a 25-footer on the 12th and went two ahead with birdies on the 14th and 15th, the latter coming courtesy of a 15-footer. Tournament over; season over. Or was it?
Rory McIlroy prays for divine intervention Photo: AFP
On the par-three 17th, McIlroy chose the wrong club and looked on in disgust as it sailed out to the left before creating huge ripples which quickly spread across the layout. “I mean, it was 40 yards off line - just a horrendous golf shot,” McIlroy said. “But JP [Fitzgerald] said to me, ‘look, just think of it, that you're all-square now. So you get up-and-down for bogey.’ It helped. In my mind, we were level when I hit that approach from the dropping zone.”
The 30-footer took him back to one-up, McIlroy raising his putter as his ball ran up the slope and in. “It was the best bogey of my career and probably my longest putt for a bogey,” McIloy said. “It couldn't have come at a better time.”
With only a par-five remaining, there was no back for Sullivan against his opponent’s power. Yet there were so many positives to take from a week which he played in 20-under, five clear of South African Branden Grave in third. “It doesn't get better than that - well, maybe one shot better,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan had every right to carry on living up to his “Smiley” nickname. He has all but guaranteed in next year’s Masters and as McIlroy pointed out is firmly affixed on the radar of the Europe captain, Darren Clarke. Sullivan looks born for matchplay.
“Just to come up head-to-head with someone of Rory's quality was absolutely awesome and something that will stick with me for a long time going forward,” Sullivan said. “I think I can hold my own now, it's safe to say. For me, it is now just trying to do it on a more regular basis.”
Danny Willett was another Englishman taking consolation. A tie for fourth on 13-under after a 70 meant him finishing second in the Race To Dubai standings, which brought him a £700,000 bonus. He will be back, aiming for McIlroy, just like every pro in Europe. Good luck with that.
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