McIlroy gesture shows his true colours after Abu Dhabi Championship heartache
Rory McIlroy narrowly missed out on victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2025, finishing one shot behind Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai, who advanced to a playoff after matching a tournament record of 25-under at Yas Links Golf Course.
Despite the disappointment, McIlroy handled his defeat with grace. He congratulated both leaders on their performances and shook hands with Fleetwood as they concluded their rounds. The two English players have faced off before, notably in the 2020 Scottish Open, when Rai triumphed after Fleetwood bogeyed the first playoff hole.
Throughout the final stages, McIlroy admitted to feeling the pressure and struggling to maintain composure as Rai set the pace. Reflecting on his performance, he shared his thoughts candidly.
"It seems like the last seven holes haven't really given me much this week," said McIlroy, as quoted by the Irish Examiner. "I made bogey on 14, trying to go for the green, but finished well. And yeah, it sort of feels like a week that I left a few out there every day. Even today, I felt like today was the best that I played. After 11, it could have been a really good round and stalled a little bit. That's the reason that I'm six back from Aaron and Nico at this point."
While McIlroy fell short this time, his sportsmanship and perspective underscored the maturity of one of golf’s enduring champions.
Author’s summary
Though Rory McIlroy narrowly missed the title in Abu Dhabi, his composure and gracious reaction reflected the character of a true sportsman.