SA's Harding fades as Hovland nets Dubai Desert Classic after final round fireworks

Norway's Viktor Hovland made a remarkable final round charge to defeat Richard Bland in the first play-off hole and win the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, six shots off overnight leader Justin Harding, produced a storming finish, sandwiching a terrific eagle two on the par-4 17th hole with birdies on the 16th and 18th to close with a sensational six-under par 66.

That took the man from Oslo to 12-under par and set the clubhouse mark, which was later matched by England's Bland, double the age of Hovland, after a stunning 22-feet birdie on the 18th hole.

Bland, who turns 49 in three days, chipped in for a birdie on the difficult ninth hole, and then holed his tough bunker shot on the par-3 11th.

However, the most crucial shot was the 22-feet birdie putt on the 18th, as the winner of last year's British Masters closed with a 68.

Rory McIlroy reached the 17th tee at 12-under par, but slightly blocked his tee shot into the right bushes on the reachable par-4.

The four-time major champion proceeded to make a remarkable par, but sliced his 3-wood second shot on the par-5 18th into the water.

He finished with a bogey and was third at 11-under par.

On the first play-off hole, Hovland found the green in two and two-putted for a birdie. Bland missed his second shot and then failed to make an up and down from the greenside rough.

Hovland never looked in contention after making a three-putt bogey from 33 feet on the 15th.

But he then drained a 35-footer for birdie on the 16th, a 33-footer for eagle on the 17th and missed a 40-footer for eagle on the 18th.

Hovland seems to be making it a tradition of mounting a late Sunday charge.

His last win on the PGA Tour, the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge in December last year,