Rory McIlroy Comes Up 1 Short In Dubai After Li Haotong Makes Winning 10-footer On 72nd Hole

Quick little Middle Eastern golf update here — Rory again looked REAL sharp in just his second start since October, but fell by 1 in Dubai after Li Haotong sunk about a 10-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

Things got very tight down the stretch. After a lock of back and forth, Li buried this birdie bomb on 15 to tie the lead.

After Rory bogeyed 16, he trailed by 1 and needed this up-and-down for bird on 17 to keep the pressure on.

Pure sex. Watching Tiger scramble this week and Rory here reminds you what wizardry these top guys possess around the greens. It’s shocking.

Haotong had to answer to hold the lead.

Rory then roasted a good one on 18 and reached the green in two while Li found the rough and had to layup. With Rory a lock to birdie, Li needed 4 to win.

Incredibly gutsy stuff from the 22-year-old Chinaman. This is Li’s second European Tour win; the current no. 60 in the official world golf rankings will certainly climb several spots this week.

Rory

In back-to-back starts after 3.5 months off, Rory’s finished tied 3rd and now solo 2nd. He’s 40-under par in those two starts with a scoring average of 66.7. He leads the Euro Tour in driving distance with an average of 318.5 yards.

It’s going to be a fun year. Let’s go.

A trademark Rory McIlroy stripe ™?

He gets his 3rd round underway.#ODDC18 pic.twitter.com/OYPW1if3yZ

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 27, 2018

PS — Bonus clip from The Mechanic.