With a target set at 12 under par, Rory McIlroy needed to play his final two holes in 1 under par to win the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.
Rory, himself, was already at 12 under and the final two holes were a drivable par 4 and a reachable par 5. A third career DDC title (2009, 2015) wasn’t a certainty, but the odds were in McIlroy’s favor as those in front of him had easily handled the finishing pair.
Viktor Hovland drove the 17th green and made eagle. He also birdied the 18th. Richard Bland finished birdie-birdie to join the Norwegian in the clubhouse lead.