McIlroy, 19, wins first European Tour title

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Teenager Rory McIlroy shot a 2-under 70 Sunday to win the Dubai Desert Classic over Justin Rose by one shot.

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Rory McIlroy is the seventh youngest player to win on the European Tour.

McIlroy, a 19-year-old player from Northern Ireland, finished with a 19-under 269 to become the seventh youngest winner in the history of the European Tour.

"This is my first win, and it's hard to win ... the first time always is," McIlroy said. "It's definitely a monkey off my back, having lost in playoffs twice. It's been an absolutely fantastic week."

McIlroy started with three straight birdies, then made a double-bogey on the fifth hole and a bogey on the eighth. From the ninth, he made five straight birdies, but just when he looked to be cruising to his first win, he dropped three shots on three holes before scraping through with a par on the 18th.

McIlroy is expected to move to No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking when the updated standings are released Monday.

"I think I have to reassess my goals now," McIlroy said. "But I go into every week with the same mind-set. ... As long as I do that, I am happy. I knew sooner or later, I would be able to close one, and I am happy I did that this week."

Rose (67) missed a 12-foot birdie attempt on the final hole which could have pushed the tournament into a playoff. Henrik Stenson (67) finished third for at 17-under, and Robert Karlsson (65), Martin Kaymer (67) and Paul Casey (68) tied fourth at 272.

McIlroy hit his third shot on the 18th hole into the back bunker and had to make a tricky up-and-down for par.

"When you watch it on TV, and you see guys coming down the stretch with a four- or five-shot lead, and you think it is easy. But it never is," he said. "You still have to play your shots, you still have to hole your putts.

"I got myself into a great position in the middle of the back nine, then let a few shots slip and Justin birdied a couple as well," McIlroy said. "So, I fought back. It was nice to hold it together on the last and get a great up-and-down for victory. That was perhaps the best bunker shot I've ever played. The adrenaline must have been pumping as I laid up perfectly and then hit the third shot about seven yards too far into the bunker."

Rose, who missed 21 straight cuts after turning pro, was happy for McIlroy.

"I gave it as good a run as I could, but I'm obviously pleased for Rory," the Englishman said. "I knew the situation coming in. The wind really picked up and its hard to close out your first win. I just knew I had to stick around.

"You know how much this means to him, and certainly a win at this stage of the season would have been fantastic for me, as well," Rose added. "And I certainly wasn't trying to miss my putt."