Haotong Li outduels Rory McIlroy to win Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Haotong Li faced a major challenge from Rory McIlroy at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, and closed out the tournament in spectacular form.

Haotong Li and Rory McIlroy put on a battle for the ages at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. After taking everything the Ulsterman could throw at him, Li emerged victorious over the former No. 1 player in the world at Emirates GC.

The lead between the two in the final group changed hands with a mix of other contenders lurking. Li, 22, led by one to start the day in search of European Tour victory number two.

Li may have shown some nerves with a bogey on the par-4 first, but he bounced back for two birdies on the front nine to share the lead with McIlroy making the turn.

The tide appeared to turn the direction of former world No. 1 McIlroy as his birdie and Li’s bogey on the par-5 10th put him two up.

More momentum shifts were coming, though as McIlroy bogeyed No. 11 and Li No. 12. Li caught fire with birdies on the par-4 13th to pull within one and rolled one in from off the green on the par-3 15th to tie. McIlroy flinched again at the 16th with bogey to hand back the lead that Li wouldn’t relinquish.

"“[…]From being two ahead, standing on the 11th tee, to being, you know, level going into 16, I just, yeah, I just, I don’t know, it was a couple of bad shots, a couple of poor decisions, a couple of mental errors, a few tentative putts out there, as well,” McIlroy said after the round as transcribed by ASAP Sports."

On 17, McIlroy hit a dazzling approach from the rough by a tree to get up-and-down for birdie. Unfazed, Li made around a 10-footer to match. Li was 14-for-14 on putts from inside 10 feet on Sunday.

Again, advantage looked McIlroy’s on the 18th as he mashed it on the par-5’s green in two. Li had a game plan, though, laying up to a comfortable distance to wedge it inside 20 feet. When McIlroy couldn’t sink the longshot eagle attempt, Li rolled in the clinching birdie putt to win by one at 23-under (66-66-64-69).

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Haotong Li is projected to climb from No. 60 in the world to inside the top 50, making him the first Chinese player to do so. According to the European Tour, Li set the tournament record for low score (-23), most birdies (30) and fewest putts per green in regulation (1.49).

While McIlroy didn’t quite finish the job in the United Arab Emirates, he’s still off to a great start in 2018. Since returning from a four-month layoff, he’s posted back-to-back top-five finishes. He’ll enjoy a week off before coming back to the United States for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Next: Rory McIlroy shows no rust in Abu Dhabi return

Chip shots

• Three-time European Tour winner in 2017, Tyrrell Hatton, finished in third at 20-under. While he gave himself a chance late, he could only muster four pars to close out the round.
• Alexander Lévy took to the back nine at 17-under and four back of McIlroy and Li. Although he never pushed the leaders, a 19-under finish in solo fourth will be useful for the Frenchman in his quest to make his first Ryder Cup team.
• Low round of the tournament was a nine-under 63 by Andy Sullivan in round three and Anthony Wall and David Horsey in round one. Richie Ramsay’s 64 was the low mark on Sunday and it moved him from 43rd to sixth on the leaderboard.
• Chris Paisley finished solo fifth (-17) to pick up his third straight top-five, one being a win at the BMW SA Open. He’s climbed from 282nd in the world in December to inside the top 90.
• Sergio Garcia posted three rounds in the 60s to finish at 12-under and in a tie for 32nd in his title defense.
• Last week’s champion at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and reigning Race to Dubai champion, Tommy Fleetwood, was among 13 players in a tie for sixth at 16-under.
• More notable results: Ian Poulter, Rafa Cabrera-Bello (T6, -16); Martin Kaymer, Miguel Ángel Jiménez (T19, -15); Pat Perez (T29, -13); Thomas Pieters (T32, -12); Branden Grace (T37, -11); Matt Fitzpatrick, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood (MC, -4)
• The European Tour continues next week at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett and Lee Westwood are among the headliners.