Dubai: Tyrrell Hatton was up to within a stroke of the lead towards the end of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic’s final round, but he couldn’t maintain his birdie rush and had to settle for a solo third-place finish on Sunday.
Having started the day at 14 under tied for seventh six strokes off the lead, he went on to get six birdies - three on either nine - on Sunday, to card a 66, finishing 20 under for the tournament.
This took him to within a stroke of McIlroy and one ahead of Li Haotong through his 14th hole (and the latter pair’s 13th), but Hatton failed to keep scoring and his rivals pulled ahead - Li eventually pipping McIlroy by a stroke at 23 under.
“I was just focusing on trying to make more birdies, as simple as that,” said Hatton of his mindset once he realised he was within touching distance of the title. “That’s always the goal no matter where you are in the tournament; to get as many birdies as possible.
“I gave myself a decent chance on 16 and 17, that was the one that slipped by,” he said of a missed four foot putt for birdie on his penultimate hole.
“I also made a really good par save on 12, so I guess it’s swings and roundabouts. You make some you miss some, so I can’t be too disappointed.”
He also saved par after hitting the water on 18.
“That was a massive mistake at the wrong time in a big tournament. It hurts but I can’t change it now.
“If you’d told me I’d hit six under today and finish third on my own, then I’d have been pretty happy. To go bogey-free is always good. Overall it’s been a great week.”
