Rory McIlroy was beaten after a forced play-off with Matt Fitzpatrick in a thrilling finish in the Race to Dubai season.
McIlroy started his round with back-to-back birdies and another on the seventh which put him 2 shots ahead at the top. For most of the day, it looked as if McIlroy was going to run away with the title. Rory dropped shots after a bogey on the 12th and 16th hole saw McIlroy lose his advantage.
Matt Fitzpatrick was closing the gap between himself and the world No.2 sinking a 25 foot putt on the 15th. Finishing his round at 18 under par for for the week left McIlroy forced to hole an eagle putt on the last, causing a play off.
After producing a sensational eagle putt on the the last hole at Jumeirah Golf Estates, McIlroy forced a play off with an in-form Matt Fitzpatrick who finished his day with a bogey-free 66 and setting the clubhouse target at 18 under. McIlroy started his round with a share of the lead, but then slipped a two-shot lead during the back nine to force a play-off.
Both players returned to the par-five 18th hole, where McIlroy looked to finish the job but instead found himself doing what he does best- making golf a harder sport for himself. He hit his tee shot into the water leading to a shot penalty. Rory hit his third shot into the right side bunker and was unable to get up and down scoring a 6 on the par 5.
His Ryder Cup teammate produced a poor attempt at an approach shot, also missing the green. However, unlike McIlroy after a beautifully played chip from the left side of the green, Fitzpatrick tapped in for par.
After a rough start in form at the start of the year Fitzpatrick said “it means the world” after overcoming his poor form.
“I struggled at the start of the year and to turn it round in the summer and have the Ryder Cup I did is hard to top, but the way I played today, there was one bad shot all day“
