McIlroy a different class in Dubai - Picks up first win of 2015

WATCHING Rory McIlroy coast to victory in the Dubai Desert Classic brought three words to mind - poetry in motion. Golf just doesn't get better than this.

He went into the final round leading by four and eventually won the tournament by three shots, but there was always a sense that any time he needed to step on the gas, he would have been able to do so.

There are so many things to enjoy about watching McIlroy - his majestic driving, his towering irons, that jaunty stride as he walks down the middle of the fairway. We can all take something from his supposed frailty on the greens because it hammers home the message that when he gets his putting stroke absolutely right, nobody will be able to live with him.

And then there is the sheer joy with which he plays. Despite the impending court case with his former management company, which gets under way in Dublin on Tuesday, the 25-year-old Irishman seems able to block every possible distraction from his mind. He loves playing well, chatting happily to his fellow competitors, smiling at the gallery and acknowledging their every cheer. And there were plenty of those at the Emirates course.

McIlroy reeled off nine pars on  the front nine and birdied the 10th and 13th to finish with a 70 and a record-equalling 22-under-par total.

"It wasn't the best round that I've played this year but I got the job done and that's the most important thing," he said. "That was sort of the objective coming to the Middle East, just after the new year. I wanted to get at least one win going heading to the States and getting into the sort of big part of the season I guess."

Shots of the week from Dubai Desert Classic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef3fSwmpzlc

In his past seven starts on the European Tour, McIlroy has four wins and three second places to his credit. McIlroy now has other things on his mind with the start in Dublin of a court case with his former management company, Horizon, that seems certain to be acrimonious and will end up being very costly for one of them.

Alex Noren, of Sweden, finished second on 19 under thanks to a brilliant third round of 65. Defending champion Stephen Gallacher was third.

"It was a good week, I'm delighted with it," said the Scot. "Obviously it was tough out there today and tough to chase the World Number One from so far back.  We were kind of playing for second place, so I'm delighted with my performance."
Gallacher finished one in front of Martin Kaymer, who appears to have put the horrors of Abu Dhabi, when he lost a 10-shot lead, behind him.