Rory McIlroy held off a brilliant challenge from Patrick Reed to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for a third time in dramatic circumstances.
McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish 19 under par, a shot ahead of Reed in a first Monday finish in the tournament’s history which proved well worth the wait.
Playing in the group ahead of McIlroy, Reed had also birdied the 18th to complete a superb 65 and set the clubhouse target, but McIlroy was not to be denied a hard-fought win and holed from 15 feet on the last to cement his status as world number one.