DAVID Howell shot his round of the week to climb inside the top 30 as world number one Rory McIlroy won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic today.

The Swindon ace carded eight birdies in an up and down round at the Emirates GC, shooting a final-round 68 to finish 11 under par in total.

Howell's birdies at the third, fourth, seventh and eighth today were offset by dropped shots at the opening hole and sixth as he got to the turn in 34.

The two-time Ryder Cup star improved in the second nine, picking up shots at 10, 11, 14 and 15, with a bogey at the 12th proving the only blemish on the way home.

McIlroy triumphed by three shots after a closing round of 70 saw him finish the tournament on 22 under par.

The Northern Irishman's first ever professional win came at the tournament six years ago and, after four consecutive top-10 finishes, the Coffee Pot Trophy once again belongs to the 25-year-old.

Rounds of 66, 64 and 66 had given the Northern Irishman a four-shot lead into the final day and although he registered his first bogey since the opening round on Sunday, no one could come close.

Howell is next due in action at the Maybank Malaysian Open, which gets under way on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur.