Rory McIlroy's Dubai Disappointment Yields Five-Figure Prize Money
The Dubai Desert Classic concluded on Sunday with American golfer Patrick Reed securing a commanding victory, but the tournament also highlighted a surprising outcome for Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy. Despite finishing in a disappointing tied-33rd position, McIlroy will still take home a substantial five-figure sum from the prestigious event.
Reed's Dominant Victory and McIlroy's Unexpected Payout
Patrick Reed claimed his first-ever Rolex series win on the DP World Tour with a four-stroke victory, finishing the tournament at 14 under par. The American golfer secured both the Dallah Trophy and a handsome £1.18 million prize for his efforts, joining an elite group of American winners that includes Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy recorded his worst result in the competition since 2008, finishing tied-33rd alongside eight other players. Despite this disappointing performance, the world-renowned sportsman will still pocket £48,043 in prize money. The total prize pool for the 33rd-place bracket was divided equally among the nine players who finished at that position, leaving each with just shy of £50,000.
Even the player finishing at the bottom of the standings earned approximately £12,000, demonstrating the lucrative nature of the tournament that attracted golfing luminaries including Tommy Fleetwood, Dustin Johnson, and Shane Lowry, who himself struggled to a 26th-place finish.
Patrick Reed's Candid LIV Golf Contract Revelation
Following his victory, Patrick Reed offered rare insight into his contractual situation with the controversial LIV Golf circuit. The American confirmed that his current contract with the Saudi-backed tour has expired and negotiations for a new agreement are still ongoing.
"We're still finalising the contract," Reed revealed. "We're not complete on that yet. I don't like to talk business and stuff while I'm playing, and so it's like Monday through Wednesday is the only time to really talk about it."
The winner went further to discuss his strategic ambitions, suggesting he might aim for a top-10 position in Europe's order of merit to potentially regain access to the PGA Tour. "If I ended up not playing on LIV this year, obviously I would be out here playing more on this tour and trying to secure one of those spots in the top 10," he explained.
These candid comments come amid ongoing tensions between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, with Reed's public discussion of contract negotiations likely to be viewed unfavourably by both organisations as their battle for golfing supremacy continues.
McIlroy's Heartwarming Gesture to Retiring Dubai Golf Official
Amid the competitive drama, Rory McIlroy demonstrated his class with a touching gesture to Dubai Golf's legendary publishing manager Ganesh Mangathil, who retired after 27 years in his role.
"When Rory heard that I was retiring, he said he wanted to stay back and meet me," an emotional Ganesh told Khaleej Times. "I was literally crying. Can you imagine one of the best players in the world waiting for you?"
Video footage shared on social media captured McIlroy embracing Ganesh and presenting him with a silver memento shaped like a traditional Arabic coffee pot. The Northern Irish golfer has maintained a relationship with the official since his teenage years.
"I have known Rory since he was 14 or 15," Ganesh explained. "I am one of his most ardent fans for the style in which he plays golf, and he personally thanked me for my contributions. What more could I want?"
This heartwarming moment provided a human counterpoint to the intense competition and financial discussions dominating the golfing world, reminding observers of the personal connections that endure beyond tournament results and contract negotiations.
