{"id":558030,"date":"2025-11-08T21:28:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T21:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/558030\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T21:28:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T21:28:12","slug":"rory-mcilroy-came-inches-from-career-first-in-abu-dhabi-which-he-still-hasnt-achieved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/558030\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy came inches from career first in Abu Dhabi which he still hasn\u2019t achieved"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rory McIlroy came inches away from achieving one of golf\u2019s rarest feats during a previous visit to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Northern Irishman’s efforts on the 18th hole this week saw him produce his \u2018worst shot ever\u2019<\/a> – a far cry from his albatross attempt nearly ten years ago just down the road.<\/p>\n

\"McIlroy<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

McIlroy is leading the Race to DubaiCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

McIlroy<\/a> is back in Abu Dhabi, aiming to secure his first victory in his 12th appearance at the event, as the Race to Dubai play-offs begin<\/a> at Yas Links. <\/p>\n

The 36-year-old has finished runner-up at the tournament four times, alongside another three third-place spots.<\/p>\n

The World No.2 lost out by a single stroke in 2012, 2014 and 2015, but the UAE capital\u00a0remains the location of his first professional hole-in-one<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2016, McIlroy almost went one step further with a moment that would have changed golf’s record books and not just his own.<\/p>\n

read more on Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy’s Near-Albatross<\/p>\n

During a fog-delayed second-round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the now-Masters<\/a> champion was struggling for rhythm and one over when play was suspended.<\/p>\n

McIlroy, Jordan Spieth<\/a> and, eventual winner, Rickie Fowler<\/a> were tasked with completing five holes on Saturday morning due to darkness.<\/p>\n

Pars came on the 14th and 15th for McIlroy, before a short birdie miss at 16 with golf fans not anticipating anything special.<\/p>\n

However, McIlroy birdied the penultimate hole and then, on the par-five 18th, a sensational 268-yard second tee shot almost dropped in.<\/p>\n

McIlroy, who sighed and puffed out his cheeks as his ball rolled agonisingly away, dealt with the tap-in eagle putt.<\/p>\n

“I needed that,” McIlroy told reporters afterwards. “I could not hole a putt from outside two feet, so I thought I would hit a couple inside two feet!<\/p>\n

“I said to JP (Fitzgerald, his ex-caddie) on the 17th tee, ‘Let’s finish three, three’. So I don’t know if I should say I need 18 threes on the first tee. <\/p>\n

“I knew 18 was a good chance and 17 was downwind, so I’d be going in with a wedge, but I didn’t quite expect to do what I did on 18. That was nice.<\/p>\n

“It glossed over a pretty average round to be fair. <\/p>\n

“But when you are not at your best, to be able to come away with a 70 and keep in touch with the leaders, I’m happy with that.”<\/p>\n

\"McIlroy<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

McIlroy has still never achieved golf’s ultra-rare feat, with 2016 his closest attemptCredit: GettyWhat is an Albatross in golf, and why is it so rare?<\/p>\n

An albatross, or double eagle, is a score of three under par on a single hole.<\/p>\n

It is typically achieved via a two on a par-5, like McIlroy came within a whisker of achieving in 2016, or with a hole-in-one on a par-4.<\/p>\n

An ace remains golf’s holy grail, but an albatross is far rarer, as it usually requires two perfect shots rather than just one.<\/p>\n

How many albatrosses have been made in majors?<\/p>\n

The ‘shot heard around the world’ from Gene Sarazen was famously the albatross he recorded on the 15th hole at the 1935 Masters.<\/p>\n

Since then, there have been 18 double eagles made across the four majors, with Patrick Reed the most recent<\/a> at the US Open<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n

McIlroy, who\u00a0completed golf’s Grand Slam with victory at\u00a0the Masters<\/a> earlier this year, has still not joined such an exclusive club in his career.<\/p>\n

He would love to change that at Yas Links this week to cap off a remarkable year with yet another landmark moment.<\/p>\n

\"Reed<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

Reed made an albatross on the 622-yard, par-5 4th, only the fourth in US Open historyCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Recorded albatrosses in major tournaments <\/p>\n

The Masters<\/strong><\/p>\n