DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | On Thursday night after a frustrating opening day of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy received a text message from Brad Faxon.
The message read: “I hate bothering you when you’re at a tournament, but I just saw a couple of things.” Attached were two clips of him putting from the first round.
“He explained what he saw, and it wasn’t anything new. It was the exact same thought with my putting that I had at the 2022 Tour Championship,” McIlroy said after sensationally defending his title in the $9 million Rolex Series event, storming back from a 10-shot deficit at the halfway stage.
“I ended up going on to win that, as well. It was a familiar thought and a familiar feel. I definitely felt like I putted a bit better on the weekend.”
That’s the thing about McIlroy. The Northern Irishman may not have played much golf after the Ryder Cup (just the season-ending DP World Tour Championship), but he started 2024 with a second place at the Dubai Invitational, followed by a win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, his fourth here. And McIlroy said a big reason for that form was because there were people who kept him “accountable” in the long offseason.
“I think that’s really, really important. Whether that’s Michael Bannon (coach) coming out and us working on some stuff; whether that’s the odd text from Harry (Diamond, his caddie) during an off week; doing some work with Brad (putting coach) at home in Florida; doing work with my trainer, Ro (Sharma), or just having conversations with Bob Rotella (mental coach),” McIlroy said.
“I think I have a great team around me and enough people to keep me accountable. I feel like if I’m not trying my best, I’m letting them down as well. If they are putting a hundred percent of their effort into it, then I feel like I should at least give them the respect and put a hundred percent of my effort in as well.”
The win at Emirates Golf Club, where McIlroy won his first title as a professional in 2009, was incredible. He opened the tournament with rounds of 71 and 70. At that stage, with 61 putts for the two rounds, he stood 10 shots behind leader Cameron Young (67-64) of the U.S.
Faxon’s observations turned McIlroy’s putter red-hot on Saturday as he completed the round in just 24 putts. The highlight of the 9-under 63, the lowest round of the tournament, was the 45-foot putt that he dropped for an eagle on the 18th hole to close the gap to just two shots over 18 holes.
"I’ve never lost the hunger to go out and play better. But I’ve also never lost the joy of the game, which I think is really important."
Rory McIlroy
As impressive as that 63 was, the 70 on Sunday was no less. Conditions at the Majlis course were demanding. The greens had firmed up, and the rough was juicy. As his closest rivals, Young and Poland’s Adrian Meronk, struggled over the tough front nine, McIlroy had opened a three-shot lead after making two monster birdie putts on the two most difficult holes on the golf course – a 31-footer on the par-4 eighth, followed by a 16-footer on the ninth.
The back nine, with three par-5s, is where most players look to score at Majlis. However, McIlroy could not take advantage of his immense length off the tee on the 10th, then made a bogey after a wayward tee shot on the 13th. With three birdies from the 10th through the 14th, Meronk threatened, but a bogey from the rough on the 16th stalled his progress while McIlroy knuckled down and made one crucial par after another.
McIlroy finished at 14-under 274, one stroke ahead of Meronk and two in front of Young.
After his 63, McIlroy was asked by Sky Sports’ Tim Barter which achievement of his made him the proudest.
“I think the fact that I turn up every day still trying to get better,” McIlroy said after he took some time on the live telecast before replying. “I think the consistency that I’ve shown throughout my career, I’ve never lost the hunger to go out and play better. But I’ve also never lost the joy of the game, which I think is really important. It’s never felt like a job to me, and the day it does feel like a job is the day I need to give up.”
The four-time major champion felt that innate urge to get better, alongside the brilliant start to the year that he has had, would be important when he heads to Augusta to try and win the elusive Masters title and complete the career Grand Slam.
“I think so. Look, Augusta is still a long way away in golfing terms. A lot can change in the two-and-a-half months,” said McIlroy, who missed the cut there last year after a runner-up in 2022.
“It’s always nice to get a win. It’s always nice to feel like you’re playing well going into it. I’ve always said that I’ll take execution over preparation every single time because you just have to execute the golf shots, especially there.
“Last year at Augusta, I learnt a lot about myself. I’ve told this story before about being on the first green on Friday, and Brooks (Koepka) was on the eighth green and I saw the big leaderboard and I was already 10 behind at that point.
“I was 10 behind after two days this week and ended up winning the golf tournament. I feel like I’ve taken that learning already and put it into practise a little bit already.”
Is there any part of his game that should have McIlroy worried as he leaves for the U.S.?
The miss to the left with his driver – especially at crunch time – is something he needs to fix. It denied him a win at the season-opening Dubai Invitational one week earlier. Leading by one shot over Tommy Fleetwood, McIlroy pulled his drive into Dubai Creek and wound up making a bogey to lose by one.
Even during Sunday of the Desert Classic, McIlroy nearly made a mess with a similar miss. On the 13th hole, the bogey came after he sent his drive left into the trees. Three holes later, he scripted a great escape on the par-4 16th from the waste area with a row of trees in front of him. Once again, he had fired his driver way left.
The learning never ends. Not even for Rory McIlroy. But he somehow finds a way to win. And the Hero Dubai Desert Classic was another shining example of it.
E-MAIL JOY