Fleetwood Denies McIlroy in Dubai Invitational

Tommy Fleetwood - File Photo by Reuters
Tommy Fleetwood - File Photo by Reuters
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Fleetwood Denies McIlroy in Dubai Invitational

Tommy Fleetwood - File Photo by Reuters
Tommy Fleetwood - File Photo by Reuters

Tommy Fleetwood conjured up a birdie-birdie finish to deny Rory McIlroy and win the Dubai Invitational on Sunday.

"It was amazing winning," Englishman Fleetwood said. "Like almost everybody else in the world of golf, I don't win anywhere near as much as I would like to but just that winning feeling great."

Fleetwood enjoyed a one-shot lead over McIlroy going into the fourth round.

And he was a model of consistency until ceding the lead after a bogey at the 16th.

He was still one shot back on the 18th tee after he and McIlroy both birdied the penultimate hole, according to AFP.

But as the Northern Irishman found the water and made a bogey, Fleetwood holed from 16 feet for a 67, a 19 under total and a seventh DP World Tour title.

South African Thriston Lawrence finished alongside McIlroy at 18 under, two clear of England's Jordan Smith and three ahead of 2018 British Open champion Francesco Molinari.

Fleetwood is based in Dubai.

"This is obviously where I live and have a lot of support," he said. "It's great to kick off the year with a great result and push on from here.

"I was very happy with the way I played today for the large majority of the round, felt like I didn't hole some of the putts that I wanted to.

"I just stayed patient and kept playing. I knew I was playing very, very well, and even the last two holes, played 17 and 18 great."

McIlroy said he was rusty.

"I think first week back out, I think you're going to expect some of those sloppy mistakes and unfortunately for me those mistakes came at the wrong time today," he said.

"Just need to tidy up some of the edges and if I do that, I feel good going into next week."



Rublev Eyes Long Coaching Partnership with Idol Safin

Russia's Andrey Rublev (R) hits a return to USA's Ben Shelton during the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) tournament in the Nimes arenas on April 4, 2025. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)
Russia's Andrey Rublev (R) hits a return to USA's Ben Shelton during the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) tournament in the Nimes arenas on April 4, 2025. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)
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Rublev Eyes Long Coaching Partnership with Idol Safin

Russia's Andrey Rublev (R) hits a return to USA's Ben Shelton during the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) tournament in the Nimes arenas on April 4, 2025. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)
Russia's Andrey Rublev (R) hits a return to USA's Ben Shelton during the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) tournament in the Nimes arenas on April 4, 2025. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

World number nine Andrey Rublev has added two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin to his coaching team ahead of the European claycourt swing but the Russian said he is well aware that his compatriot will only stick around if he enjoys the job.
Rublev has struggled to keep his emotions in check at times during matches and his outbursts have overshadowed his game, but the 27-year-old said after a run to the Doha title in February that conversations with his idol Safin had helped him.
Having formally hired the former world number one ahead of this week's Monte Carlo Masters, Rublev is hoping for a long and successful partnership with the former Australian Open and US Open champion.
"I hope for really long, but it depends if he will enjoy to work with me or he will suffer," Rublev told reporters.
"Because if he would feel that I'm not doing the things or I'm not listening, I don't think he will waste his time.
"For the moment I'm just trying to listen and to try new things. We'll see how it will work, or what it will bring, or what's going to happen."
Safin was no stranger to outbursts, having broken dozens of rackets on court during his career and Rublev hoped the 45-year-old's experience in dealing with his problems would be useful, Reuters reported.
"He had his own struggles that he went through and I was always afraid to ask (about) those things, but inside I always wanted to," Rublev said.
"In the end, when I found out that he was also ready and he was looking maybe to work in tennis, it was like, 'Okay, I have to at least try ... I have to ask'."
Rublev takes on French veteran Gael Monfils in the second round of Monte Carlo.