Hatton Edges McIlroy to Win Dubai Desert Classic Title

Tyrrell Hatton secured a dramatic victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, holding off Rory McIlroy with a nerve-wracking five-footer par putt on the 18th hole to claim his fifth Rolex Series title.

Tyrrell Hatton secured a thrilling victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, claiming the title with a nerve-wracking five-footer par putt on the 18th hole. The Englishman, who plays for LIV Golf, described the win as “a dream come true.” Hatton's victory continued his impressive form on the European Tour, where he has now won five Rolex Series events, tying him with Jon Rahm for the most wins in the DP World-backed European Tour's elevated events.

At the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club, Hatton held off a strong challenge from overnight leader Daniel Hillier, who closed the gap to one shot with a birdie 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. England's Laurie Canter finished in sole third place at 13-under, while Rory McIlroy's gallant effort to secure the title three years in a row came up short, despite a strong 66 that included five birdies on the back nine.

McIlroy ultimately finished tied for fourth place alongside Danish sensation Niklas Norgaard, who also shot a 66. Hatton's victory marked a significant milestone in his career, and he will look to build on this momentum in future events.

Tyrrell Hatton's victory at the Dubai Desert Classic is expected to propel him from 17th to 8th in the world golf rankings when they are updated on Monday. Hatton, who is playing on the DP World Tour due to an appeal against his fines for playing on LIV Golf, expressed his relief and excitement after the win. “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,” he said.

Tyrrell Hatton wins in Dubai! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/KxZgpUcYCP

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) January 19, 2025

Hatton also shared his pride in adding his name to the list of champions at the Dubai Desert Classic. “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,” he said. Rory McIlroy, who finished tied for fourth, expressed his satisfaction with his performance over the weekend. “I probably just left myself a bit too much to do after three days. I had chances, and I was burning the edges,” he said.

An exceptional performance 🙌@TyrrellHatton is the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic Champion 🏆#LIVGolf @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/WHPCyxJSQE

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) January 19, 2025

McIlroy reflected on his game, noting improvements throughout the week. “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,” he explained. McIlroy is optimistic about his upcoming performances, stating, “I feel like I got progressively better as the week went on, which bodes well for obviously the next few weeks.”