Rory McIlroy Makes Golf History with 4th Win at Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIroy made history with his first win of the season.

The World No. 2 closed out the Dubai Desert Classic with a 2-under 70 Sunday to become the first golfer in history to win the tournament for a fourth time.

This isn't the first Dubai Desert Classic record McIlroy has set. He became the youngest winner in tournament history when he first claimed victory as a 19-year-old in 2009.

McIlroy also won the tournament in 2015 and 2023. Last year he finished one stroke ahead of Patrick Reed to claim the victory.

The 2024 victory, the 38th professional win of McIlroy's career, marks the first tournament he has won four times. He holds three victories in the Tour Championship and Wells Fargo Championship.

This weekend's 14-under-par victory marks a comeback for McIlroy in more ways for one.

Not only did the defending champion head into the halfway point of the tournament 10 shots back from the lead, but he recently finished in second place at the Dubai Invitational after a pair of errors on the back nine forced him to concede what looked like a certain first-place finish to English golfer Tommy Fleetwood.

McIlroy looked like he was facing a similar situation during the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic, when he was pressured by Polish golfer Adrian Meronk, who made four birdies in the final nine holes to come within one shot of McIlroy's lead. This time McIlroy remained steady and made par on No. 18 to close out the victory.

The veteran golfer is expected to be back in action on the PGA Tour at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am from Feb. 1-4.