NORTHERN Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy held his nerve to win a first professional title at the Dubai Desert Classic today by one stroke from Englishman Justin Rose.

The 19-year-old carded a final round two-under-par 70 to finish at 19 under and seal a wire-to-wire victory as Rose fell just short after a five-under 67 at Emirates Golf Club.

McIlroy led by six with six to play after reeling off four straight birdies from the ninth but three bogeys in three holes saw Rose move to within one of his playing partner standing on the final tee.

Rose had a chance to force at least a play-off with a 15-foot birdie putt at the last but missed, allowing McIlroy to roll home a four-foot par putt.

The win elevates McIlroy to 14th in the world and makes him the seventh youngest winner in European Tour history.

Dubai-based Swede Henrik Stenson (67) finished third at 17 under, with Robert Karlsson (65), Martin Kaymer (67) and Paul Casey (68) a further shot adrift in fourth.

McIlroy also held a six-stroke lead after picking up birdies in all of his opening three holes.

But a wobble in the middle of his front nine briefly left him just one ahead before five straight birdies from the ninth set him up for a seemingly straightforward win.

But after three bogeys in three holes handed Rose hope and after he hit his approach shot over the final green and into a bunker, the Northern Irishman looked on course for another near-miss after losing two play-offs last year.

But McIlroy held his nerve to chip out to four feet and after watching Rose miss his chance, steadied himself to claim his biggest career cheque and move up to second place on the Race to Dubai with his fourth top-10 finish of the young season.

The leaderboard will make welcome reading for new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie with Miguel Angel Jimenez (66) finishing tied for seventh with world number two Sergio Garcia (67) just outside the top 10.

Montgomerie signed for a final round 67, which included six birdies over his back nine, to finish tied for 13th at 11 under alongside Ross Fisher, Qatar Masters winner Alvaro Quiros and Anders Hansen.

Meanwhile, English amateur Matthew Turner finished a credible 51st at level par after a final round 75.