( CNN ) -- Stephen Gallacher became the first man to make a successful defense of the Dubai Desert Classic title as tournament favorite Rory McIlroy had a day to forget Sunday to fall back into a tie for ninth . Overnight leader Gallacher looked to have blown his chance as he went to the turn with four bogeys , but he recovered magnificently on the back nine of the Majils course to claw back the shots with four birdies . His level-par final round of 72 left him on 16-under 272 , a shot clear of Argentina 's Emiliano Grillo , who had set the clubhouse pace after finishing with a spectacular eagle for a 66 . McIlroy , who had narrowly missed out on a $ 2.5 million prize for a hole in one Saturday , proceeded to miss out on victory after falling away with a 74 . He had started the round two behind playing partner Gallacher , but three bogeys in four holes after the turn scuppered his chances . `` It was just one of those days , '' he told gathered reporters . `` I think anything that sort of could go wrong did . Okay I hit a couple of loose drives , but I did n't really get away with them or stuff like that . Just sort of , you know , one of those days . '' Gallacher , who had played the opening two rounds in the illustrious company of world number one Tiger Woods and McIlroy , admitted he had made it hard for himself after an appalling start , but his victory has boosted his chances of making the European Ryder Cup team . `` I never do anything easy I 'm afraid , '' Gallacher told the official European Tour website . `` What a day -- my emotions are gone . `` To win it on the 25th anniversary , it was a good field with all the champions playing , makes it even more special . '' The 39-year-old , a nephew of former European captain Bernard Gallacher , lives just 50km from Gleneagles , where the 2014 contest is being staged and wants to get his qualification points in early . `` I 'm playing in all the events now and hopefully the Masters so that will be brilliant . You do n't want to leave it too late so hopefully I can build on it , '' he added . Grillo finished alone in second place , his best result of his career , with France 's Romain Wattel and Brooks Koepka of the United States a further stroke back on 14-under-par . Woods birdied his final three holes for a 71 , but finished well off the pace on six-under and tied for 41st . `` Unfortunately I turned it around too late , '' he said . Meanwhile , Kevin Stadler overhauled former Masters champion Bubba Watson to win the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on the PGA Tour . It was Stadler 's first win in 239 starts after he carded a three-under 68 to win by a shot from Watson on 16-under 268 . Overnight leader Watson had a five-foot par putt on the final hole to force a playoff , but missed it to leave his partner to lift the trophy .
Stephen Gallacher wins Dubai Desert Classic for second year in a row . First successful defense in 25-year history of the tournament . The U.S. Open is held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on June 18-19 and will be televised by NBC. NEW : Kevin Stadler wins Phoenix Open from Bubba Watson .