McIlroy California dreaming after worst finish for 17 years in Dubai Desert Classic

Patrick Reed poses with the trophy following his victory in the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Picture: Getty Images

Rory McIlroy hopes to shake off the rust soon and build for his Masters defence after he recorded his worst finish for 17 years to finish 12 shots behind an imperious Patrick Reed in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

While he dominated from the tee at the venue where he had won four times and finished outside the top 10 just once in 11 starts as a professional, the Holywood star finished a lacklustre joint 33rd on two under after a closing 73.

After finishing 89th for strokes gained putting and racking up ten bogeys and a double bogey over the four days, he admitted he has work to do to be ready for his defence of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12-15 and the following week's Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

It was the first time he failed to record a top 10 finish at the Emirates Golf Club since missing the cut in 2008, and he’s focused now on being sharp for the PGA Tour's Florida Swing and the countdown to Augusta National.

"Yeah, stuck in neutral most of the week, absolutely," he told reporters after running through the fairway into water at the 18th to finish with a pedestrian par five.

He knows he must start to build up a head of steam over the next two months if he's to be ready to take on the likes of Reed, third at Augusta last year, and world number one Scottie Scheffler.

"Sort of shake the rust off a little bit," he told The Scotsman at the Emirates Golf Club, where Reed's closing 72 was enough to secure a four-shot win over Andy Sullivan on 14-under-par.

"See where the game is. I have two weeks off now before playing Pebble and then Riv. So do a little bit more practice. Obviously, play those two."

He will be hoping to have his game in top condition for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill (March 5-8) and his defence of The Players (March 12-15) before heading down Magnolia Lane for his 18th Masters appearance (April 9-12)

"Still trying to obviously build up to the Masters," McIlroy added. "Last year was really good for me with the win at Pebble and the win at The Players.

"If I can keep progressing a little bit and get to a level that I want to be, then hopefully I can contend in one of the tournaments in California, at least, and then do the same thing in Florida heading into Augusta."

Tom McKibbin (€89,672) was the best of the Irish in Dubai, finishing joint 19th on four under after a 72 as Shane Lowry (€72,810) made six birdies in a rollercoaster 70 to finish a shot further back in 26th.

The title and the €1.3 million winner's cheque went to Reed (35), who saw fellow LIV Golf star David Puig reduce his four-shot overnight lead to two strokes with nine holes to play.

"Even (my caddie) Kess was like, 'Hey, now it's a dogfight. Now let's get going. Go shoot under par on the back nine; no one will beat you," Reed explained.

The big-hitting Spaniard (25) had a chance to cut the gap to one stroke when Reed bogeyed the 11th.
But after missing his three-footer for par there, a two-shot swing in the American's favour at the 13th killed his chances.

"We were able to get that birdie on 13 to get to one-under, and he gave me a gift there by bogeying," Reed said. "And from there on, just hit fairways, hit greens and just don't make any mistakes."

While he was wary of Puig's power from the tee, Reed parred his way home to win with ease as the Spaniard bogeyed the 15th and took seven at the last to slip to joint seventh after a 75.

"When you're four-up with a couple left, it definitely felt a lot nicer," said the Texan, who is expected to move into the world's top 30.

"But with the firepower that David has there, especially with his length… I knew I had to keep the pedal down."