The Irishman took a one-stroke lead into the final round on Sunday but ultimately fell to Tyrell Hatton’s 66.

“I started great with two birdies in the first three,” McIlroy said. “Then I felt like there was a few putts I hit today, the wind affected the putts more than maybe the last couple days. So there was the one on four, the three-putt, and there were a couple others, the couple of bogeys around the turn didn’t help.

“I thought I was in good position on ten and Tyrrell was outside of me, makes that putt for birdie, and then I can’t make mine for eagle and that was a huge sort of momentum-keeper for him. Then I bogeyed the next and after that, it was sort of hard to get back into it.

“I don’t feel like I played great this week, felt like I was managing my game a bit. Nice to get a competitive week under my belt and see where my game is at and what I need to do to keep on improving. Hopefully I’ll get on the plane and head over to Torrey Pines and tee it up there next week.”

McIlroy generally positive

“I thought for the most part of the week, my short game and my putting was good. I scrambled well. Had some pretty good approach shots, especially last night coming down the last few holes. I thought there was parts of rounds where I got the driver going, even the last few holes this evening there I got the driver going a little bit.

“But still, sometimes I’ll have a few holes where it’s like that and there’s a few holes where it sort of gets away from me. So a little more consistency and being able to replicate the good ones hole after hole and then day after day until you sort of put four rounds together.”

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During the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Hatton overturned the overnight lead of his playing partner McIlroy and clinched a four-stroke victory.

The Englishman has now won two of the last three Rolex Series events, having lifted the BMW PGA Championship title last October. His victory comes as the European Points List restarted this week in the race to qualify for the European Ryder Cup side.

Hatton cruised to three birdies on the front nine, while McIlroy dropped shots at the par three fourth and par five eighth holes. McIlroy lost any momentum created by the early birdies at the second and third.

Victory rarely looked in doubt for Hatton. He played assured and calculated golf down the stretch. Three birdies on the way home wrapped up a flawless six under final round 66, for  an 18 under total. He joins Jon Rahm as the only other player to lift four Rolex Series titles.

Australia’s Jason Scrivener claimed the best result of his career on the European Tour. A final round 66 earning him runner-up spot, with McIlroy taking his eighth top three finish in 11 appearances at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“I’m thrilled to be honest,” said Hatton. “Even knocking the putt in on 18, it doesn’t seem like I’ve won the tournament. Obviously it’s amazing. I’ve always loved starting my season here in Abu Dhabi. To now add my name on that trophy with so many great champions before me is a huge honour. I think the big moment for me today was the putt on ten. Maybe that was going eight feet past and just hit the hole. That’s huge.”

Final Round scores

270 T HATTON (ENG) 65 68 71 66,
274 J SCRIVENER (AUS) 67 70 71 66,
275 R MCILROY 64 72 67 72,
276 R CABRERA BELLO (ESP) 67 67 73 69,
277 D LIPSKY (USA) 72 66 68 71, M WARREN (SCO) 72 66 68 71,
278 F ZANOTTI (PAR) 66 71 72 69, M WALLACE (ENG) 68 70 71 69, C PAISLEY (ENG) 72 68 69 69, T FLEETWOOD (ENG) 71 67 67 73,
279 G COETZEE (RSA) 70 71 68 70,
280 A ARNAUS (ESP) 74 67 69 70, W ORMSBY (AUS) 69 70 70 71, C BEZUIDENHOUT (RSA) 71 71 67 71,

Other select scores

291 P HARRINGTON 70 73 75 73, J HARDING (RSA) 73 69 76 73, L WESTWOOD (ENG) 69 73 75 74, S KJELDSEN (DEN) 71 72 73 75,

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The four-time Major winner recorded a five under par round of 67 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club today to get to 13 under par. The Irish golfer has now reclaimed the lead he relinquished to Ryder Cup team mate Tyrrell Hatton at the conclusion of the second round.

Having shot a sparkling 64 to top the leaderboard in the opening event of the 2021 season, McIlroy needed a birdie on Saturday morning to sign for a level par 72 as the delayed second round was completed. He found himself three shots off the lead after 36 holes.

McIlroy roared back to come within touching distance of a first win at an event where he has been runner up four times. Today’s round included an eagle and five birdies to move one shot clear of three-time Rolex Series winner Hatton. Dual Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood is a shot further back.

American David Lipsky and Scot Marc Warren are at ten under par after a pair of 68s, one shot ahead of Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, with Australia’s Jason Scrivener at eight under.

Frenchman Alex Levy holed his tee shot from 163 yards with a nine iron at the par three 15th hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to win a BMW M850I Coupe.

McIlroy’s Reaction

“Today was a little better,” McIlroy admitted. “It’s so blustery and it’s a different type of golf than we’re used to playing here in Abu Dhabi. You feel like you have a chance on every hole. There’s like a little more scrambling involved and longer putts.

“I thought I did well today. Obviously had that big stroke of luck on ten, the ball hitting the pin and going in. Apart from that, I played well. I drove it much better on the back nine and hit it much better on the back nine. I was really encouraged with that.

“I can’t go into tomorrow thinking it’s my turn. I want to make it my turn. I have to go out there and continue to hit the ball like I hit it on the back nine tonight. If I can do that and give myself plenty of chances, I’ll have a real chance.”

Round three scores

203 R MCILROY 64 72 67,
204 T HATTON (ENG) 65 68 71,
205 T FLEETWOOD (ENG) 71 67 67,
206 M WARREN (SCO) 72 66 68, D LIPSKY (USA) 72 66 68,
207 R CABRERA BELLO (ESP) 67 67 73,
208 J SCRIVENER (AUS) 67 70 71,
209 C BEZUIDENHOUT (RSA) 71 71 67, M LORENZO-VERA (FRA) 69 72 68, G COETZEE (RSA) 70 71 68, C PAISLEY (ENG) 72 68 69, W ORMSBY (AUS) 69 70 70, M KORHONEN (FIN) 69 69 71, M WALLACE (ENG) 68 70 71, F ZANOTTI (PAR) 66 71 72,

Other select scores
217 L WESTWOOD (ENG) 69 73 75, H STENSON (SWE) 71 72 74, S HEND (AUS) 71 72 74,
218 J HARDING (RSA) 73 69 76, P HARRINGTON 70 73 75,
219 S SODERBERG (SWE) 69 71 79, J WINTHER (DEN) 74 69 76.

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