DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — England’s Tyrrell Hatton said it was “a dream come true” after the LIV Golf player continued his remarkable form on the European Tour on Sunday claiming the Dubai Desert Classic as Rory McIlroy’s gallant effort to secure the title three years in a row came up short.
At the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club, the 33-year-old Englishman holed a nerve-racking five-footer par putt on the 18th to stay one ahead of overnight leader New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier (71), who had closed the gap to one shot with a birdie of his own on the par-5 finishing hole.
Despite starting the day with a bogey, Hatton closed with a solid three-under-par 69 for a 15-under-par total. His fifth Rolex Series win ties him with his LIV Golf captain Jon Rahm for the most wins in the DP World-backed European Tour’s version of elevated events.
England’s Laurie Canter (68) was in sole third at 13-under.
McIlroy shot a 66, with five birdies on the back nine, to get up to tied fourth place alongside Danish sensation Niklas Norgaard (66).
Hatton, who is playing on the DP World Tour because he has appealed against his fines (for playing on LIV Golf) and has not resigned from his membership, is expected to rise from 17 to eighth in the world golf rankings when it is updated on Monday.
Despite starting the day with a bogey, Hatton closed with a solid three-under-par 69 for a 15-under-par total.
He started the day one shot behind Hillier and moved ahead decisively on the fifth hole when he made a birdie, while the Kiwi duffed his chip for a bogey.
Three-time Ryder Cup star Hatton had an anxious moment on the par-3 seventh hole, where his tee shot stopped perilously close to the water, but he went on to make a par three.
“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous on the back nine, to be honest. I guess I just maybe wanted it a bit too much. I knew the position I was in, and a little bit scruffy down the last. But to see that putt go in, felt amazing,” Hatton said.