Rory McIlroy may have strengthened his Race to Dubai lead this week, but he’s been left ruing two moments.
McIlroy finished tied for third on 21 under at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Sunday, level with Thorbjorn Olesen and Englishman Matt Wallace.
But McIlroy admitted he was left feeling frustrated by playing the last two holes on Friday and Saturday in two over.
As Tyrrell Hatton edged him to second place by making a birdie at the last, he said: “I think the two finishes on Friday and Saturday obviously left me with a bit of work to do, and if I do come up one short, I’ll obviously rue those two finishes on those two days.
“Obviously I wanted to birdie the last, anyway.
“But I know that birdie, even if it isn’t to win the tournament this week, it obviously gives me that little bit extra of a cushion going into next week.
“Every shot counts at this moment in time, and I was glad to make the four at the last and at least give myself half a chance at this tournament this week but also give myself a little bit more of a cushion going into Dubai next week as well.”
Despite being disappointed with his overall performance, McIlroy did hole an insane birdie from 53ft on the final day.
He’d made a massive drive to send the ball 307 yards off tee into the native area.
He then got himself 53 feet away from the pin.
And even the Northern Irishman himself looked impressed as he sent the ball into the cup on his first putt for a birdie.
McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai by 1785 points, with Thriston Lawrence in second.
“I do feel in a good position,” McIlroy added.
“I saw Thriston making a charge today, and I was keeping one eye on the leaderboard and looking at what he was doing.
“I saw he posted 20.”
McIlroy will now head to Dubai for the DP World Tour Championship.
That begins on Thursday November 14.
