Omega Dubai Desert Classic Report

World No 1 Rory McIlroy marched on with regal authority on Sunday to claim his second Omega Dubai Desert Classic title when he coolly held off the chasing pack to win by three shots in a tournament record of 22-under 266.

His wire-to-wire victory, his first this year and his 10th on the European Tour, followed his 2009 triumph in this same event here at the Emirates Golf Club in 2009 when he won his first-ever professional title.

At the end his closest pursuers on Sunday were Swede Alexander Norén, who finished second on 19-under after closing with a sizzling 65, and defending champion Stephen Gallacher of Scotland who was third on 16-under in his bid for a hat-trick of titles.

Gallacher, who matched McIlroy's 22-under 266 in winning in 2013, is one of the two players who now share the tournament record with McIlroy. The other is Thomas Bjorn (2001).

There were no real fireworks in McIlroy's 2-under 70 closing round at the Emirates GC's Majlis Course, but then there didn't have to be as he opted to forgo the heroics and instead ensure that he maintained as much of his third-round, four-stroke lead as possible

"I just wanted to keep my ball in play, not really make any mistakes and try and pick off some birdies when I could on the par 5s," said the 25-year-old Northern Irishman, a runner-up in his previous three European Tour appearances.

“I did what I needed to do,”  “It wasn't the best round that I've played this year but I got the job done and that’s the most important thing."

Then, referring to his three previous runner-up finishers, he added: “It's not a bad thing, I guess, finishing second, but it's not really what you want. I had chances to win and wasn't able to capitalise on them.

"I sat here on Wednesday saying that I didn't want to finish second any more, and it’s nice to be able to get the victory and sort of back up what I say with my performance on the course.”

Looking at McIlroy's cool professionalism in Dubai - he conceded just one bogey all week as he shot rounds of 66, 64 66 and 70 - you would never have suspected that, fresh from his Emirates triumph, he'll head straight back to the multi-million-pound court battle he is having with his former management company in Dublin.

Then his plans will take him Stateside to the US PGA Tour where he will play in three tournaments ahead of April's Masters, the only one of the four majors he has still to win - and this before his 26th birthday on May 4. Right now he is the 6/1 hot favourite.

“I’ll keep it ticking over,” McIlroy said. “It will be nice to get back in the States, get in my own house and get into a routine of practice and stuff. I didn’t mind that the Masters is still a couple of months away. I feel like I can keep this run of form going and there’s no reason why I shouldn't.

"’I'm comfortable with my game. I’m happy with how I’m swinging it and just a matter of keeping on top of things and not getting complacent and working hard.

“That was the objective of coming to the Middle East just after the new year. I wanted to get in at least one win heading to the States and getting into the big part of the season. It’s great to get that win and coming off a good performance in Abu Dhabi as well, I have got some confidence and momentum on my side."

Behind McIlroy, Norén and Gallacher, there was a five-way tie for fourth, Germany's Martin Kaymer (64),  Austria's Bernd Wiesberger (70), Denmark's Morten Ørum Madsen (73), England's Andy Sullivan (70) and Frenchman Gary Stal (68) posting 15-under 273 totals.

Sullivan and Stal both overtook major winners (Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer respectively) in winning their maiden Tour titles earlier this season and McIlroy did admit that the possibility of it happening again had crossed his mind.

The Dubai Leader Board

-22 Rory McIlroy NIR 66 64 66 70 266
-19 Alex SWE 68 67 69 65 269
-16 Stephen Gallacher SCO 66 67 70 69 272
-15 Martin Kaymer GER 67 69 73 64 273
-15 Morten Ørum Madsen DEN 71 63 66 73 273
-15 Gary Stal FRA 69 69 67 68 273
-15 Andy Sullivan ENG 65 68 70 70 273
-15 Bernd Wiesberger AUS 64 69 70 70 273
-14 Thomas Aiken RSA 68 71 66 69
-14 Graeme McDowell NIR 67 65 72 70 274
-14 Robert Rock ENG 68 67 69 70 274
-14 Lee Westwood ENG 65 68 69 72 274

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