MARTIN KAYMER squandered a 10-shot lead to give little-known Frenchman Gary Stal victory in the 10th anniversary Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The catchphrase for the tournament was 'Expect the Unexpected' and that sentiment certainly rang true in the UAE capital.

Stal, ranked 357th in the world, came from eight shots adrift of the double major winning German to post a final round 65. That allowed him to win by a shot with a 19-under par tally.

The 22-year-old broke down in tears at the 18th, overcome by memories of his mother, Christine, who died from cancer while he was contesting last year's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. World No.1 Rory McIlroy, who also started eight shots behind Kaymer, was second in Abu Dhabi for the fourth time in five years, playing his closing 10 holes in six-under par in a 66 for an 18-under par total.

Kaymer went into the final day leading by six shots. After three birdies in his opening four holes he had stormed to 23-under par to go 10 strokes clear of his rivals. However, it started to go wrong for the German when he doubled the ninth and then carded a triple bogey at the 13th.

"I am surprised, a little shocked," said Kaymer. "I don't really know how to put it into words. It was very, very surprising today. I started off well and hit a couple bad tee shots and cost me double��bogey and a triple��bogey.

"The positives is I was playing really good golf. That was nice after such a long break, when you play the first three days, I played so solid, missed barely a fairway. And today was a little bit different. But there's still a lot of positive, and that's tough to say after that round. I certainly was shocked."

It is the second Tour event in succession a major champion has surrendered a commanding position, with Masters winner Charl Schwartzel letting slip a five-shot lead last week to lose out in a play-off for the South African Open.

Kaymer was not only beset by a sudden loss of form but also criticism from a television viewer. Officials acknowledged that a complaint was received after Kaymer marked his ball on the 12th green and then handed it to his Glaswegian caddy, Craig Connelly. Kaymer then walked to the other side of the flag to survey his putt and with Connelly placing the ball a few feet behind the marker so his man could better see the putt. The German was cleared on any wrongdoing.

McIlroy enjoyed a more settled final hole as he birdied from a greenside bunker, before watching on the TV as Stal recorded a winning par. "It seems like at the moment I am always the bridesmaid," said McIlroy. "If you take out last month's Australian Open, I was second Tour Championship, second in the Dunhill Links, second in the DP World Tour Championship and now second here again in Abu Dhabi."

The world No.1 will head north to Dubai for a week's practice ahead of teeing up next Sunday in the Abu Dhabi Invitational, a one-day pro-am format on the Yas Links course. Scot Richie Ramsay will defend his title.

"I played a social round on Yas Links last year when we were here, so I might finally get my first win here in Abu Dhabi next week," said McIlroy.

Paul Lawrie led home the three remaining Scots in the field, posting a 69 for a share of 20th place on 11-under par. "Today's round was just unbelievably frustrating as I played lovely and just missed everything," said Lawrie.

"I hit a lot of good putts and just missed everything, and I finished three under par but going on eight under. I must have had six or seven putts I missed inside 12-feet but that's how it goes."

Lawrie will host a corporate outing today for sponsor Saltire Energy at the Saadiyat course in Abu Dhabi, before heading to Doha and this week's Qatar Masters. It is an event he won in 1999 and 2012.

"I've always liked going back to Qatar with the course playing quite firm and with always a bit of wind about, it's what I like about playing the tournament," he added.