Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy won the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, but it took a brave four-footer at the last to win it after he had led by six strokes 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 10 feet for a double bogey six at the fifth. But with none of his main challengers able to make much inroads, the former world amateur No. 1 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 for what could turn out to be a landmark win. Perry vaults into lead In Arizona, American Kenny Perry sank a 33-foot birdie putt at the final hole Saturday to seize a one-shot lead after the third round of the $6-million FBR Open. Perry, who won three titles last season as he played his way onto the US Ryder Cup team at the age of 48, completed a five-under 66 for a 12-under total of 201. His birdie at the last broke a tie with Scott Piercy, who roared up the leaderboard with a 66 of his own. After going eight-under through 13 holes, Piercy posted bogeys at 14, 15 and 17. He is winless and without a top-10 finish in 22 career PGA starts. Piercy had five birdies on the front nine and added three more in a four-hole stretch from the 10th on the back nine. Kevin Na and Brian Gay were tied for third at 10-under 203. Na shot 66 and Gay a 67 to move into contention. J.B. Holmes' bid to win this tournament for a third-straight year ended when he missed the cut on Friday. Also missing the cut was local hero and two-time winner Phil Mickelson, who was making his 2009 season debut. Geoff Ogilvy and last year's US Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, were in contention after solid rounds. Ogilvy played the back nine five-under to finish with a 65 that moved him into a tie for sixth three shots off the lead. Mediate carded a 67 to move to eight-under for the tournament and four strokes back.
