Rory McIlroy came very close to winning this weekend's Abu Dhabi Championship.

Indeed if it wasn't for a two shot penalty for a "stupid" rule violation, the Holywood golfer may well have emerged victorious.

McIlroy described it as a "moral victory" after his left foot touched a boundary line. 

It was his playing partner's caddie, Dave Renwick, who warned McIlroy about his infringement before signings his card.

While Ernie Els' caddie Colin Byrne felt it was a "harsh penalty", he told us that McIlroy will learn the hard way.

"The rules of golf are very clearly defined and it's up to the golfer and the team themselves to be on top of it. I suppose it is hard luck but it's up to the golfer themselves to pay attention," said Bryne who feels that Renwick did the right thing.

"We're all guardians of the game and the rules. If you see an infringement and you're aware of it, you have to [say something]. That's how it's always worked. It sounds like he was being petty but it's not. He's 100 per cent done the right thing. When the dust settles on this, anyone who has suffered on the wrong side of it could only look back and say he's done the right thing. Even if you're not penalized immediately, we have a saying on tour that 'the golfing Gods will get you back'. Hopefully there's no bad feeling and there's no way Rory was trying to gain an advantage."