Stephen Gallacher recovered from a nightmare start to become the first player to successfully defend the Dubai Desert Classic as Rory McIlroy fell off the pace with a final-round 74.
Gallacher began the day with a two-shot lead over McIlroy, but bogeyed the first two holes and dropped further shots on the sixth and eighth to fall two off the pace.
However, the 39-year-old Scot found the back nine at Emirates Golf Club very much to his liking for the second day in succession, making birdies on the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th to finish 16 under par after a closing 72.
It was nothing like as spectacular as the seven birdies and an eagle he produced to cover the same stretch on Saturday, but was enough to win by one shot from Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.
Four bogeys on the seventh, 10th, 12th and 13th holes put paid to McIlroy’s challenge. Despite birdies at the 1th and 17th, he couldn’t keep pace with the leaders.
Damien McGrane, meanwhile, shot a final round of 71 to end the tournament on 10 under par. Michael Hoey shot a fine final round of 69 to end up on four under par.
Grillo had set the clubhouse target on 15 under after a flawless 66 completed in amazing fashion, the world number 268 holing from 65 feet for an eagle on the 18th after his approach had clattered into the hospitality tents behind the green and bounced back onto the putting surface.
France's Romain Wattel and American Brooks Koepka shared third place on 14 under, with McIlroy two shots further back after struggling to a 74.
World number one Tiger Woods carded a final round of 71 to finish in a tie for 41st on six under.
