While the thrilling finale was playing out on Monday, South Africa’s players in the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic were being led home by a dogged final-round level-par 72 by Jacques Kruyswijk.
Rory McIlroy edged past the controversial Patrick Reed with a stunning 15-footer for birdie on the final hole to bring the tournament to a late close. Reed had also birdied the final hole, but his closing 65 was just not good enough to overhaul McIlroy’s 68 which took the world number one to 19-under. Lucas Herbert of Australia was third on 16-under, England’s Callum Shinkwin fourth on 15-under and Frenchman Julien Brun fifth on 15-under.
Kruyswijk had a solid week, with rounds of 69-69-70-72 giving him a share of 28th on eight-under-par.
It wasn’t the best final round by a South African on the day: Justin Walters and Hennie du Plessis each carded a five-under-par 67 to move to seven-under for the tournament and a share of 38th.
Oliver Bekker and Louis de Jager signed for 74 and 75 respectively, and shared 51st on six-under. Justin Harding had a closing 77 for a five-under final tally in a share of 59th, and Shaun Norris, who started the final round in contention, slid to a seven-over 79 and a share of 65th on four-under.
