Rory McIlroy has had a long-standing love affair with Dubai.
Not only did he previously have a home there, but, at least in recent years, seemingly every time he tees it up in the United Arab Emirates city, he either wins or is in serious contention, but how many times has he won there?
The city was the scene of McIlroy’s first win in the professional game, back in 2009.
The tournament was the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, and he was a 19-year-old up against a man a decade his senior, Justin Rose.
McIlroy appeared to be cruising to the title, too, leading by six with the same number of holes remaining before three bogeys pegged him back and Rose closed the gap to one on his playing partner.
Despite the wobble, McIlroy held on to become the seventh youngest winner on the European Tour.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Three years later, McIlroy won again in the city, on that occasion at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course.
By that stage, McIlroy was well on the way to cementing his reputation as one of the best players of his generation and had two Major titles under his belt.
He capped a glorious season by beating Rose again, this time by two, as he wrapped up his first Race to Dubai title, too.
It was another three years until McIlroy triumphed in Dubai for the third time, at the 2015 Dubai Desert Classic.
Once again, the tournament took place at Emirates Golf Club, where he took the title in style, with a 22 under 266 matching the lowest in the history of the tournament as he swatted away the challenge of Alex Noren by three.
Rory McIlroy won the Dubai Desert Classic for the second time in 2015
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“I never even thought of winning, Rory’s playing so good,” said Noren.
Towards the end of the year, McIlroy won in Dubai again, and for the second time at the DP World Tour Championship.
He shot a six-under final round of 66 to beat overnight leader Andy Sullivan by one, and in doing so, clinched his third Race to Dubai title in four years, having also won the season-long contest in 2014.
Afterwards, McIlroy said: “It’s the best way to finish 2015 and I can’t wait for next year.”
Rory McIlroy beat Andy Sullivan by one at the 2015 DP World Tour Championship
(Image credit: Getty…
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