“I knew I had to forget who was chasing me and focus only on myself. Mentally, I think it was the day I got through the toughest battle of my golfing life.”

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who won the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) Dubai Desert Classic (total prize money of 9 million dollars) with a 4.2m birdie putt in the last hole, clenched his fists and roared. If he failed to put that birdie putt, he would have had to play overtime with Patrick Reed (USA), with whom he had accumulated old feelings. McIlroy once took a knee while playing in the same group as Reed in the Ryder Cup and Masters, a major golf competition between the United States and Europe.

McIlroy cut 4 strokes with 5 birdies and 1 bogey in the final 4 rounds for a total of 19 under par 269. In particular, the concentration to catch consecutive birdies on the 17th hole (par 4) and 18th hole (par 5) was stronger than before.

McIlroy, who won his first competition this year, firmly secured his position as the world’s No. 1 player, and received his 15th DP World Tour victory and $1.53 million in prize money (approximately 1.87 billion won

The Dubai Desert Classic, which ended in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the afternoon of the 30th (Korean time), five days after the opening due to bad weather on the first day, between McIlroy and Saudi Arabia claiming to be the guardians of the American Professional Golf (PGA) Tour. The match was heated by Reed, one of the flagship players of LIV Golf, sponsored by the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Before the start of the tournament, the two faced each other at the practice range. When Reed greeted him, McIlroy turned away. Reed then threw his tee at McIlroy and smiled bitterly. At the press conference, McIlroy pointed out, “If I were him, I wouldn’t have thought to say hello or ask for a handshake.” The American media called the two’s emotional fight ‘Tee Gate’. 토토사이트

Reid, who was called a ‘bad boy’ during the PGA Tour but was top-notch in terms of skill, bit McIlroy to the end in the last round. Reid, who was tied for 4th place, 4 strokes behind McIlroy, who was leading until the 3rd round, reduced 7 strokes with 1 eagle, 6 birdies and 1 bogey that day. Reed, who tied for the lead with an eagle on the 10th hole (par 5), showed a tenacious temperament as a matchmaker by catching a birdie on the 18th hole (par 5) and finishing the game tied for the lead first.

Reid was at the center of controversy throughout the tournament, including being accused of breaking the rules by cheating in the 17th hole (par 4) in the third round. The ball from the tee shot got caught on a tree branch and did not come down, but a certain ball on the branch claimed as if it was his own ball and took advantage of it. Even though there was no problem with the rules, the American media named Reed’s rule controversy ‘Tree Gate’ after he was accused of cheating several times during his PGA Tour days.