In a stunning turn of events, Rory McIlroy’s electrifying charge at the Abu Dhabi Championship short-circuited on the final hole of the third round. The world No. 3 found the water off the tee on the par-5 18th, leading to a disastrous double bogey that left him five shots behind leader Paul Waring heading into Sunday’s final round.
McIlroy, who began the day nine strokes off the lead, had stormed into contention with six birdies through his first 17 holes. The Northern Irishman had whittled the deficit to just three shots and appeared poised to apply serious pressure to the front-runners.
Splash and Burn
But on the 18th tee, McIlroy’s drive took a wicked kick off the rocks lining the fairway and ricocheted into the water. After taking a drop, his fourth shot found the greenside bunker, and he could only manage a double-bogey 7.
“The leaders weren’t getting away and I was making a little bit of a charge. One mistake – that drive on 18. Untimely mistake,”
– Rory McIlroy
The deflating finish left McIlroy at 13-under par overall, five shots adrift of Waring. The Englishman struggled to a 73 but saw his lead trimmed to just one stroke over Niklas Norgaard. A group of four players, including major champions Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, lurk just two back.
Race to Dubai Implications
For McIlroy, the late stumble could prove costly not just in Abu Dhabi, but in his quest to claim a record-tying sixth Race to Dubai crown.
“I dug myself a bit of hole to get out of. I go into tomorrow feeling like I have half a chance.”
– McIlroy on his title prospects
While he remains in the hunt, McIlroy will need to summon some final-round magic – and avoid the type of untimely miscues that torpedoed his third round. He will begin Sunday in 13th place, needing to leapfrog a dozen rivals while hoping those ahead of him falter.
Deja Vu All Over Again?
The late-round stumble had an eerily familiar feel for McIlroy. In the second round, he made a triple bogey on the 17th hole to spoil an otherwise stellar day. Eliminating these round-wrecking blowups will be imperative if he hopes to hoist the falcon trophy on Sunday.
While McIlroy will justifiably rue his watery finish, he can take solace in the brilliant golf he produced over his first 17 holes. The four-time major champion was firing on all cylinders, peppering the pins with precise irons and rolling in putts from all over the greens.
Final Round Forecast
Looking ahead to the final round, the leaderboard is delicately poised. Waring, still chasing his first European Tour victory, will attempt to fend off a hungry pack of pursuers, most notably the hot-putting Lowry. The 2019 Open champion has a penchant for going low on championship Sundays. Fleetwood, too, is a threat to post a number after a third-round 71.
Still, all eyes will be on McIlroy as he attempts to complete his improbable rally from nine shots back. The former world No. 1 has an uncanny knack for producing fireworks when he’s chasing, and he undoubtedly has the firepower to shoot a low number on the eminently gettable Yas Links setup.
But as he learned the hard way on Saturday, the line between heroics and heartache in golf is often razor thin. One pulled drive, one mis-clubbed approach, one lapse in focus can spell the difference between hoisting a trophy and leaving empty-handed.
For Rory McIlroy, redemption – and perhaps a history-making sixth Race to Dubai title – is still within reach. But if he is to author an epic final-round comeback, he’ll need his best stuff. And maybe a little luck, too. After all, those rocks won’t move themselves.
