Gregory Bourdy and  Rory McIlroy were the Hong Kong heroes last night, but some failed to make their Fanling fairytales come true.

While the duo are in the lucky 59 (58 if Anthony Kim fails to show) battling it out for a share of the $15million on offer at this week’s Dubai World Championship, there were plenty of players left wondering what if.

Among them was McIlroy’s big buddy Darren Clarke. Clarke fired a final round three-under 67 at the Hong Kong Golf Club, but fell short of making the plane to Dubai by one shot.

But he had few complaints.

“I’ve tried my heart out all week,” the Ryder Cup legend said last night. “I think I needed to be one shot better to give myself a chance but there’s nothing more I can do now.

“It is not all about this week as it has been a pretty poor season overall. But I tried my best and I am proud I went out this week and gave myself every chance.”

Another player refusing to be too downhearted was  Robert-Jan Derksen.

The flying Dutchman knew he had to finish in the top two to make the DWC, and it looked good for a while in Fanling, as he attacked Bourdy’s lead.

But he finished in a tie for third, three shots behind the French ace on 16-under.  And he said: “I tried to make birdies coming in and thought if I could just make one on the last then I might just make the Dubai World Championship.

“But that’s the way it is and that’s golf.

“I would rather miss Dubai than go to Spain for Tour School.

There are a lot more people are unlucky.”

Some of those ‘unlucky’ ones facing a trip to Tour School include 2004 PGA Championship winner Scott Drummond, whose five-year exemption is now over, Simon Khan, Andrew Coltart and big-hitting Swede Pelle Edberg.