Hatton holds nerve to clinch ‘dream’ Dubai title from Hillier

AFP | Dubai

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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 threeunder-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).