Rory McIlroy sinks birdie on 18th to hold off Reed and win Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIlroy held off a dramatic final-day surge from Patrick Reed to win the Dubai Desert Classic for the third time on Monday.

McIlroy had started the final round – delayed to Monday because of last week’s storms in the area – four shots clear of the American but Reed stormed up the leaderboard to join McIlroy at 17 under.

McIlroy birdied the 17th to move one shot clear before Reed, playing just ahead of the Northern Irishman, birdied the par-five 18th to draw him level again.

Quick Guide How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts? Show

Thank you for your feedback.

That left McIlroy requiring a birdie on the last to avoid a playoff. A wayward drive off the tee forced him to lay-up short of the green and his approach shot over the water left him with a 15-foot putt for a birdie and victory. McIlroy held his nerve to roll home the downhill putt and claim the title.

It meant the prospect of a Reed-McIlroy playoff did not materialise at the end of a tournament that began with the pair at odds off the course. Reed, who plays on the rebel LIV circuit, has had a busy time of it in Dubai – a driving range brush with McIlroy, quickly dubbed Teegate, put him in the spotlight while an incident with a drop ball after hitting his drive into a tree on Sunday also stoked controversy.