Hatton holds off Hillier to win in Dubai

Dubai Desert Classic final standings

-15 T Hatton (Eng), -14 D Hillier (NZ), -13 L Canter (Eng), -12 R McIlroy (NI), N Norgaard (Den), -11 T McKibbin (NI), S Norris (SA).

Selected others: -9 P Reed (US), -7 E Ferguson (Sco), C Hill (Sco), -6 R MacIntyre (Sco), -5 T Fleetwood (Eng), -4 M Jordan (Eng), C Syme (Sco), -1 M Wallace (Eng), R Ramsay (Sco).

Tyrrell Hatton, England’s Tyrrell Hatton, held his composure at the final hole to take the Dubai Desert Classic by one shot over Daniel Hillier.

Hillier and Hatton were two shots clear of each other when they went to the 18th, but Hatton, who had a lead of one shot heading into Sunday, birdied it, leaving the Englishman with a challenging par putt to win.

To claim his eighth DP Tour title and move to the top of the Race To Dubai rankings, the 33-year-old did just that with a three-under-par 69 and a 15-under total.

He told Sky Sports, “I was nervous on the back nine and it was a little scruffy at the last.”

“But it feels amazing. To add my name to the list of amazing champions is a dream come true, as I stated earlier this week, because this event is something you would love to have on your resume.

Hillier and Hatton both missed their opening holes, but the Englishman quickly made up for it with a birdie at the following and picked up shots at the fifth and sixth to advance.

Hillier had a chance to move one-two places after birdies at the 10th and 11th, but a dropped shot at the following and a birdie from Hatton at the 16th placed Hillier in charge.