Flash floods, landslides kill 8 in northern Vietnam, 3 missing    Saudi Arabia approves new Medical Referral Center with 15 key responsibilities    Saudi Arabia produces over 122,000 tons of high-quality local grapes during peak summer season    Saudi Arabia detains over 22,000 residency, labor, and border violators in one week    Hamas says it will not disarm without fully sovereign Palestinian state    Canada rejects claims of ongoing arms exports to Israel    Israeli strikes kill at least 18 in Gaza as aid seekers face deadly fire    HR ministry proposes strict rules for advertising domestic labor services    Saudi Gazette publishes full text of new foreign property ownership law The law grants non-Saudis broader real estate rights under defined conditions while imposing restrictions in Makkah and Madinah    Saudi anti-graft authority investigates 425 employees, detains 142 in July corruption cases    Saudi Arabia's real GDP grows 3.9% in Q2 2025 on broad-based economic expansion    Sotheby's returns Buddha jewels to India after uproar    Riyadh Film Music Festival returns with live orchestral performances of iconic movie scores    Saudi, Russian energy ministers discuss oil market and joint committee plans    Nissan Formula E Team celebrates a landmark season 11 with proud Saudi sponsor Electromin    Fahad bin Nafel steps down as Al Hilal president after historic six-year run    João Félix unveiled by Al Nassr as €50m move marks bold new chapter in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia approves first Alzheimer's treatment with lecanemab for early-stage patients    Chris Tucker, Pete Davidson and Aziz Ansari among stars set for Riyadh Comedy Festival    Al Nassr beat Benfica to €50m João Félix signing after Ronaldo, Jesus intervene    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



McIlroy does it in Dubai
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 02 - 2009

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy won the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, but it took a brave four-footer at the last to win it after he had led by six strokes with six to play. He closed with a two-under par 70 for a total of 19-under-par 269 one stroke clear of England's Justin Rose, who closed with a 67 for second place.
It was the 19-year-old Ulsterman's first win in 46 attempts since turning pro in 2007 and he became the youngest winner on the European Tour since Sergio Garcia at the 1999 German Masters.
McIlroy led from wire to wire in the Gulf region's premier tournament and the win underlines his status as one of the most exciting prospects in world golf.
Leading by two strokes after he completed his delayed third round in 67 earlier in the day, McIlroy opened his final round in sensational style with three straight birdies to get to 20-under. That gave him a five-stroke cushion over the field and he looked set for a comfortable win before three-putting from 10 feet for a double bogey six at the fifth.
But with none of his main challengers able to make much inroads, the former world amateur No. 1 was able to put that blip behind him and five straight birdies from the ninth left him with a whopping six-stroke advantage.
McIlroy again looked home and dry but there was a late major wobble to negotiate as he bogeyed three in a row from the 15th. Nearest challenger and playing partner Rose had eagled the 13th and a birdie at the 17th cut the margin to just one stroke with just the par-five 18th to come.
A nervous-looking McIlroy pitched his third into a back bunker, while Rose was on the green 15 feet away from the pin.
But when Rose narrowly failed to make his birdie putt, McIlroy got up and down for par sinking a four-footer for what could turn out to be a landmark win.
Perry vaults into lead
In Arizona, American Kenny Perry sank a 33-foot birdie putt at the final hole Saturday to seize a one-shot lead after the third round of the $6-million FBR Open.
Perry, who won three titles last season as he played his way onto the US Ryder Cup team at the age of 48, completed a five-under 66 for a 12-under total of 201. His birdie at the last broke a tie with Scott Piercy, who roared up the leaderboard with a 66 of his own.
After going eight-under through 13 holes, Piercy posted bogeys at 14, 15 and 17. He is winless and without a top-10 finish in 22 career PGA starts.
Piercy had five birdies on the front nine and added three more in a four-hole stretch from the 10th on the back nine.
Kevin Na and Brian Gay were tied for third at 10-under 203. Na shot 66 and Gay a 67 to move into contention.
J.B. Holmes' bid to win this tournament for a third-straight year ended when he missed the cut on Friday.
Also missing the cut was local hero and two-time winner Phil Mickelson, who was making his 2009 season debut.
Geoff Ogilvy and last year's US Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, were in contention after solid rounds.
Ogilvy played the back nine five-under to finish with a 65 that moved him into a tie for sixth three shots off the lead.
Mediate carded a 67 to move to eight-under for the tournament and four strokes back.


Clic here to read the story from its source.