Hatton's 'dream comes true' at Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Tyrrell Hatton claimed a record-equalling fifth Rolex Series title with a gutsy final-round 69, edging Daniel Hillier by one stroke to win the 36th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

On a second successive sold-out day at Emirates Golf Club, the tournament's heavyweights finally found their stride after a week where unlikely contenders had stolen the spotlight at the region’s oldest DP World Tour event.

World No. 223 Daniel Hillier, the underdog in pole position to upset the game’s elite, began the day with a one-shot lead and the Dallah Trophy within reach. However, Hatton quickly overtook him with birdies on the second, fifth, and sixth holes.

Already boasting victories at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, BMW PGA Championship, and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Hatton is a proven force in the Tour’s grandest events -and he delivered once again on Sunday at the Majlis Course.

After climbing to the top of the leaderboard with his birdie on the fifth, he held firm and refused to relinquish his lead. That’s not to say there weren’t tense moments along the way. Hillier pushed Hatton to the wire, keeping the pressure on until the 72nd hole.

Hatton caught a crucial break on the seventh when his tee shot came up short and rolled toward the water, stopping just inches from the hazard. The Ryder Cup star managed an up-and-down to save par.

Another scare came at the 12th, where Hatton found the rough off the tee and pulled his approach into a tricky lie. Although he dropped a shot, Hillier couldn’t capitalise, failing to get up and down himself.

The final hole brought more drama. Hatton played it safe, laying up and then hitting a conservative approach to the back of the green, avoiding the water. Facing a 45-foot birdie putt, he left himself a testing five-footer for par.

Meanwhile, Hillier, who had gone for the green in two and ended up just beyond it, drained a nine-footer for birdie to ramp up the pressure. Unshaken, Hatton calmly converted his par putt to finish at 15-under, securing a one-shot victory over the Kiwi and another Rolex Series title to add to his collection.

“It feels amazing,” said Hatton after his eighth DP World Tour win.

“I said earlier in the week, this is one of the events that you would like to have on your C.V. It's such an iconic event for the DP World Tour.

“To add my name to the list of the amazing champions that have been before me, to have my name on that trophy now, it's a dream come true.”

Canter finished alone in third on 13 under after posting a final day 68, while Nørgaard and four-time winner McIlroy finished in a share of fourth on 12 under after the pair each carded a closing 66.

“I think when you take a few weeks off and you come back to play like a really good tournament setup like this, I look at some flags on greens and like, whoa, that's quite a bit further to the right than I thought it would be or that's quite a bit further to the left,” said McIlroy.

“When you're playing at home and the greens are in the middle of the greens, it just gives you a different visual. Then you get out here, and your aim lines start to become a little different.

“I think playing a week like this, it sort of gives me a good appreciation for what I need to do the next few weeks.”

Norris and Tom McKibbin were a shot further back on 11 under and Guido Migliozzi and David Micheluzzi shared eighth on 10 under.