Nervy McIlroy claims maiden victory

Audio

• Rory McIlroy speaks to Con Murphy & Jacqui Hurley after his one-shot victory in the Dubai Desert Classic

Click here to listen to Rory McIlroy's speaking after his maiden victory on the European Tour

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has won the Dubai Desert Classic, but it took a brave four-footer to win it after he let slip a six-stroke lead with six to play.

He closed with a two-under par 70 for a total of 19-under-par 269 one stroke clear of England's Justin Rose, who closed with a 67 for second place.

It was the 19-year-old Ulsterman's first win in 46 attempts since turning pro in 2007 and he became the youngest winner on the European Tour since Sergio Garcia at the 1999 German Masters.

McIlroy led from wire-to-wire in the Gulf region's premier tournament and the win underlines his status as one of the most exciting prospects in world golf.

Leading by two strokes after he completed his delayed third round in 67 earlier in the day, McIlroy opened his final round in sensational style with three straight birdies to get to 20-under.

That gave him a five-stroke cushion over the field and he looked set for a comfortable win before three-putting from ten feet for a double bogey six at the fifth.

But with none of his main challengers able to make inroads, the former world amateur number one was able to put that blip behind him and five straight birdies from the ninth left him with a whopping six-stroke advantage.

McIlroy again looked home and dry but there was a late major wobble to negotiate as he bogeyed three in a row from the 15th.

Nearest challenger and playing partner Rose had eagled the 13th and a birdie at the 17th cut the margin to just one stroke with just the par-five 18th to come.

A nervous-looking McIlroy pitched his third into a back bunker, while Rose was on the green 15 feet away from the pin.

But when Rose narrowly failed to make his birdie putt, McIlroy got up and down for par sinking a four-footer and claiming the winner's cheque of €323,514.

Teenagers to win on the European Tour:

18 years 290 days Dale Hayes (1971 Spanish Open)
19 years 121 days Seve Ballesteros (1976 Dutch Open)
19 years 149 days Paul Way (1982 Dutch Open)
19 years 176 days Sergio Garcia (1999 Irish Open)
19 years 191 days Seve Ballesteros (1976 Lancome Trophy)
19 days 267 days Sergio Garcia (1999 German Masters)
19 days 273 days Rory McIlroy (2009 Dubai Desert Classic)
19 days 331 days Aaron Baddeley (2001 Holden International)