Unheralded Englishman Robert Rock won the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday to deny Tiger Woods the win he was seeking to end a two-year winless drought in full tournaments.

The $A2.54 million event was the fourth leg of the European Tour season and the opening leg of the tour’s Desert Swing that also takes in Doha and Dubai.

The world’s 117th ranked player fired a closing two-under par 70 for a 13-under par total of 275.

That gave the 34-year-old a one-stroke win over Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy who fired a final 69.

Woods, with a par 72, finished tied for third a further stroke back, level with Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (68), and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (68).

It was a stunning win for the Englishman, a former club pro in the East Midlands, who had admitted to feeling starry-eyed after learning on Saturday that he would be playing with the American in the final grouping.

“I can’t believe I have done this. It’s such an amazing feeling,” he said.

“I surprised myself early on as I was very nervous but I hit some good shots and then thought to myself – why not?

“I have been struggling to crack the 100 (world ranking) mark but I reckon I have just done that.”

Rock and Woods shared the lead on 11 under at the start of the day and battled it out over the final 18 holes with Rock edging ahead at the fourth hole and standing firm.

It was just his second tournament win in 228 attempts, following his victory in the Italian Open last year.

For Woods it was a bitter blow as he had looked set to win a full tournament for the first time since November 2009.

It was at last year’s Masters that Woods sustained the leg injury that sidelined him for most of the year before he finally returned to the winners’ circle at the Chevron World Challenge in California in early December.

That, however, was only an 18-man invitation event that Woods himself organised for the benefit of his charitable foundation.

In three, improving rounds of 70, 69 and 66 for 11 under par for the tournament, Woods had so far given the surest signs yet that the swing he has painstakingly remodelled under new coach Sean Foley is finally in place.

Despite failing to finish the job on Sunday, Woods will still feel he has laid down an important stepping stone on a path he hopes will lead to a 15th major title at The Masters in early April.

“I was right there with a chance to win, but just didn’t get the job done,” said the 36-year-old.

“Robert played great today. He was consistent and did not do anything wrong.”