Teen sensation McIlroy wins in Dubai
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2009 Dubai Desert Classic | Round Four | 02 Feb 2009
Despite three bogeys in his last four holes, teenager Rory McIlroy held on to win the Dubai Desert Classic and secured his maiden European Tour title by one over Justin Rose and by two over Henrik Stenson.
The youngster from Northern Ireland, who does not turn 20 until May of this year, appeared to have the title in safe keeping when five consecutive birdies from the 9th established a six shot lead. Winning for the first time is never an easy proposition however and McIlroy soon discovered just that with bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 17th and all off a sudden he had opened the door for others.
Henrik Stenson was playing in the group ahead and a birdie for him at the final hole got him within two but it would be Justin Rose who provided McIlroy with his greatest threat. The pair played together in the final round and playing the 72nd hole they were separated by just one shot.
The par five last at the Emirates Golf Club provides many permutations and is a fine finishing hole for tournament golf. Today McIlroy was forced to get up and down for par, holing a four foot putt after Rose had missed a chance to apply the ultimate pressure when a 15 foot birdie putt slid by.
Stenson held third alone ahead of Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer and Robert Karlsson with Karlsson producing six birdies in his last seven holes to further confirm his massive elevation in world standing last year.
The win moves McIlroy to an amazing 16th position in the World Ranking and into the second position on the Race to Dubai standings.
The best of the Australians was Scott Strange whose share of 7th earned him €47,266, Richard Green struggled on the final day but finished 11th, New Zealander Mark Brown was 39th and Brett Rumford 44th.
The European Tour now takes a one week break before heading to Malaysia for the Malaysian Open.
