PGA Tour

Li holds off McIlroy to claim stunning win

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Li was up for the fight

China’s golf sensation Haotong Li confirmed his star status with a stunning win over Rory McIlroy at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

A tournament which always brings great drama delivered once again but not in the manner many expected on Sunday.

The front nine was all theatre as Li, leading through 54 holes for the first time in his career, and McIlroy, bidding to join Ernie Els as a three-time winner of the event, started the back nine at the Emirates Golf Club as co-leaders with chasers Alex Levy and Tyrrell Hatton still harbouring hopes of an upset.

The 10th delivered its share of the drama as McIlroy drew first blood with a birdie for a two-shot lead as Li made 6. The 11th was equally intriguing as the Northern Irishman faltered with a wayward tee shot which left him short-sided in the greenside bunker and settled for a bogey of his own, but he stayed narrowly in front as Li’s birdie putt came up short.

McIlroy’s best game had been evading him but he stayed in front and in control of his own destiny with a par on 12 as Li dropped a shot for the third time in the final round.

The lead was halved when McIlroy three-putted for par on the 13th as Li got himself back into the picture. The picture changed completely when the Chinese professional fist-pumped his birdie putt from off the back of the 15th into the cup.

That putt, downhill and down grain, changed everything as the momentum shifted away from the gallery favourite.

Neither player found the fairway on the 16th but it was McIlroy who compounded his mistake with a tournament-costing decision to try to manufacture a shot from the sand way right of the fairway. He salvaged a bogey with Li finding the green in two and two-putting for par to get back into a share of the lead.

The drivable par 4 17th was the next stage for the fireworks as the final pair traded blows. McIlroy played a delightful chip that finished agonisingly short of the cup. His birdie was matched when Li held his nerve for a three of his own and a one-shot lead going down the last.

Li stood on the 72nd hole with the lead over a player much more fancied and needing one shot to break the tournament scoring record, not that that would’ve been on his mind.

McIlroy launched a massive drive and found the back of the green in two as Li was forced to layup after finding the left rough. He left himself the perfect distance and floated a wedge into 12 feet for birdie.

The underdog watched nervously as McIlroy’s putt drifted passed the hole, giving him one putt for the biggest win of his career.

And one putt was all he needed as he calmly rolled in his putt, which was his fourth birdie in the final six holes, to seal a win that will launch him into the world’s top 50 and into superstardom in his home country.

For McIlroy, it’s a case of what might’ve been, had his drive on 16 been more accurate but there are a lot more positives to take as he continues his buildup of the one Major that remains out of his grasp.