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."



Yamaha’s Quartararo Denies Marquez His Home Spanish MotoGP Pole

 Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Yamaha’s Quartararo Denies Marquez His Home Spanish MotoGP Pole

 Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)
Team Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo rides during a practice session of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, on April 26, 2025. (AFP)

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo beat crowd favorite and six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to take pole position at the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix at the Circuito de Jerez on Saturday, where the lap record was broken twice.

Championship leader Marquez looked on course for a fifth successive pole after he sped to a time of one minute and 35.643 seconds early in the second qualifying, but Quartararo put on a blistering lap in the final moments to stun the Ducati rider.

The 26-year-old Yamaha rider clocked a time of one minute and 35.610 seconds to take his first pole since 2022.

Twice MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia came third to complete the front row.

"It's a really special feeling, a special emotion for everybody," Quartararo said.

"We know that the points are on the sprint and the race, but already to feel the atmosphere close to all these guys is something.

"Hopefully, we can make a great fight on the sprint, on the race we know it's a little more difficult. But super happy to be here. We are working hard and the work will pay off."

Gresini's Alex Marquez was the fourth fastest, ahead of Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Racing in fifth.

Marquez leads his younger brother Alex by 17 points in the championship and Italian Bagnaia in third by 26. He has the opportunity to stretch it further in the sprint, which will be held later on Saturday.