McIlroy cards two-under 70 on final day to clinch three-shot win at Dubai Desert Classic

Northern Irish golf ace Rory McIlroy carded a two-under 70 to finish on 22-under as he grabbed a three-shot victory at the Dubai Desert Classic on the final day in the Emirates.

McIlroy, who was four ahead overnight, did not face any serious challenge and was not required to repeat his first three days' brilliance as a two-under 70 left him on 22 under, with his nearest overnight challenger Morten Orum Madsen triple-bogeying the first as Sweden's Alex Noren (65) took second.

Holder Stephen Gallacher (69) finished in the third place, six shots behind McIlroy. The win means that McIlroy has achieved four wins and three runner-up finishes in his last seven European Tour events, the BBC reported.

McIlroy said that he played a solid round of golf and did what he needed to do to keep his nose in front, adding that he felt like he was a little bit tentative over the first few holes but insisted that they have seen what can happen to big leads these last few weeks with Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel in Abu Dhabi and South Africa.

The world number one golfer said that he was conscious of that and making sure that he didn't make any mistakes.

Kaymer led by 10 shots early in the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship last month before his collapse handed victory to Frenchman Gary Stal while South African Schwartel's late slump allowed England's Andy Sullivan to clinch the South African Open a week earlier, the report added.