Despite a bogey at the last, Rock's final-round two-under-par 70 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club saw him finish on 13 under par, good enough for a narrow one-stroke victory over McIlroy, whose 69 did not quite prove enough on the day. Callaway X-24 Hot Irons
Tiger Woods, tied with Rock overnight, signaled his intent early in the final round with successive birdies at the second and third, but Rock matched those and Woods' challenge faltered as he inexplicably posted two bogeys, both after missing the green in two and failing to get up and down, immediately after his gains. Rock, meanwhile, parred the holes Woods bogeyed and then birdied the sixth to lead by three before the turn - a lead he would not again surrender.
Bogeys at the eighth and 13th brought his advantage down to only one shot, but Rock rallied with birdies at the 14th and 16th to reestablish a two-shot cushion.
Woods was left chasing Rock for the remainder of the round after his early bogeys, but couldn't put together a score that could trouble the Englishman, eventually finishing in a tie for third on 11 under with Callaway X-24 Hot Irons , who shot a 68, and Graeme McDowell, who also shot 68 - thanks in no small part to a hole-in-one at the 12th.
In fact, it was McIlroy with a two-under back nine after birdies at the 13th and 18th, who ended up grabbing second place.
It's only Rock's second victory in 227 European Tour events and the World No 117 won't soon forget what he managed to achieve this week.
"I really can't believe I have done that today," Rock said on Sky Sports.
"I was just very happy to be playing Callaway X-24 Hot Irons with Tiger. That's a special honour in itself."
Woods was magnanimous in defeat.
"I was just a touch off," said the former world number one, who hit only one fairway on the back nine and only six greens in regulation all day.
"But Robert played great. He made a couple of key up-and-downs and a couple of beautiful iron shots down the stretch."
McIlroy looked to be in a play-off when Rock's drive on the 18th appeared to be heading straight towards the lake, but it stopped just short. The ball was in the hazard amongst the rocks and the plants, though, and considering he had a two-shot cushion, Rock wisely chose to take a penalty drop.
Still short of the green in three, his pitch came up 25 feet short and he knew that he just needed the two-putt for the bogey and the Callaway X-24 Hot Irons .
Having already holed birdie putts from 10 and six feet at the 14th and 16th, his touch did not desert him.
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