Rory McIlroy admits he made too many mistakes in his pursuit of retaining his Dubai Desert Classic title, despite being encouraged by a strong finish to the tournament.
The world No 2 posted his lowest score of the week with a birdie-filled 65 at Emirates GC, but was left to rue an error-strewn 72 on Friday and a slow start along the front nine during the third round.
Beginning eight strokes off the pace having finished his round strongly on Saturday, McIlroy mixed seven gains with a solitary bogey during the final day but had left too big of a gap to mount a serious challenge for victory.
"It's sort of a week of what could have been," McIlroy said. "There was a lot of really good golf in there. I played a lot of great shots and made a lot of birdies, but just made a few too many mistakes.
"I'll rue the two front nines that I played on Friday and Saturday. I played the combined front nine five over par there and if I had not of done that, things could have been different.
"But I'm encouraged with the good golf that I've played. It's been good because I know what I need to work on over the next few weeks, but obviously it could have been better."
Having struggled on the front nine throughout the week, McIlroy missed birdie chances at each of the first three holes on Sunday before draining a 35-footer at the fourth.
After following a 15-foot gain at the fifth by picking up another from ten feet at the next, McIlroy almost chipped in from off the seventh green and holed the par save putt.
Tap-ins over the next two holes saw the defending champion reach the turn in 33, with a birdie at the 10th getting McIlroy within four of overnight leader Danny Willett.
McIlroy's slim victory hopes all-but ended with a dropped shot at the 12th, but the Northern Irishman responded with four birdies in a five-hole stretch.
Having birdied the 13th and 14th, McIlroy posted another at the par-three next by firing his tee shot to within six feet and then coaxed in a four-foot putt at the 17th.
Needing an eagle at the par-five last to tie with the on-course leader Willett, McIlroy couldn't find the green in two and closed his week with a two-putt par.
"All in all, it was a decent weekend and decent way to play the last 27 holes," McIlroy added. "I thought if I could finish say three, three, three, I would have a good chance and didn't do that.
"I birdied the 17th and really wanted to at least give myself a chance for a three at the last, so not making birdie was a bit disappointing.
"Wedge play and short game around the greens has been good. Even if I'm not hitting it as well as I'd like, those things are sort of saving me a little bit.
"I'm working on my driving and my putting. If everything else can stay where it is, I feel like I should get a good run in the States."