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Hatton holds nerve to clinch Dubai title from Hillier

golf19 January 2025 14:20| © AFP
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Tyrrell Hatton @ Getty Images

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 place 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.

"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," said Hatton.

"I said earlier in the week, this is one of the events that you would like to have on your CV. It's such an iconic event for the DP World Tour. To add my name to the list of the amazing champions that have been before me, it's a dream come true."

McIlroy said he was delighted with the way he played over the weekend in his first start of the year.

"I probably just left myself a bit too much to do after three days. I had chances, and I was burning the edges," said McIlroy.

"Felt like I putted pretty well without anything going in and then today, didn't really feel like I played that differently the way I played the last few days.

"I just holed a couple of putts and made a couple of good ups-and-down when I had to. I feel like I got progressively better as the week went on, which bodes well for obviously the next few weeks."

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