Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Two years ago, Rory McIlroy famously snubbed Patrick Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic. In truth, it was a pretty classless act by the Northern Irishman.

And the pair will have another chance to renew acquaintances at this year’s tournament, when McIlroy returns as defending champion. You may remember that Reed approached McIlroy with an outstretched hand, which he refused to accept. Reed ended up angrily throwing a tee at his rival.

The reason for all of this was down to the fact that Reed was one of the leading defectors to LIV Golf, a tour of which McIlroy was a leading critic.

In the field this week will be a number of LIV golfers. Reed will be joined by, among others, Tyrrell Hatton, Thomas Pieters and Jon Rahm. And the question is: will McIlroy treat them the same way he did Reed? Not a snowball’s chance in hell.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Hatton and Rahm have made it clear that they want to be members of Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team. Hatton showed some proper commitment to the cause by playing in a number of DP World Tour events at the end of last season. He even won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. His efforts see him in third place in the European Ryder Cup standings. I am not a fan of the Englishman’s behaviour but he has proved by his actions that he genuinely does want to be a part of the team.

I have different feelings about Rahm. Having appealed against his suspension, he was allowed to once again play in DP World Tour events and did enough to qualify for the end-of-season playoffs. He chose not to do so. But here he is in Dubai, expecting to be welcomed back into the fold like a returning hero. And McIlroy has already made it perfectly clear that he expects the Spaniard to be teeing it up at Bethpage Black. That he will make the team stronger is without doubt but should he be in the team? That is an entirely different matter.

Rahm initially struggled after his mega-money defection to LIV Golf but it all came right for him as the season progressed. His form in the majors was an entirely different kettle of fish.

However, I have no doubts whatsoever that Rahm will be there or thereabouts this week.

But he is going to have to be at his very best if he is to have any chance of winning at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai because the first full-field event of 2025 boasts a stellar cast.

McIlroy, Hatton and Rahm will be joined by the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Adam Scott and PGA Tour star Akshay Bhatia.

Fleetwood, who won his seventh DP World Tour title at the Dubai Invitational 12 months ago, will make his 14th consecutive appearance on the Majlis Course and the Dubai resident is aiming for more success in the United Arab Emirates, following back-to-back titles in Abu Dhabi in 2017 and 2018.

"I always enjoy starting my season in the Middle East and having played the Hero Dubai Desert Classic every year since I came out on Tour, it’s become a tournament that I love," said the Englishman who won the Silver Medal at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris. "I’m looking forward to teeing it up close to home in front of friends and family once again."

MacIntyre made his Ryder Cup debut as he joined McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm and Hatton in Europe’s victory in Rome in September 2023 and has since enjoyed a memorable 2024 season. The Scot claimed his first PGA Tour title at the Canadian Open in June and added a third DP World Tour title - and a first on the Rolex Series - with an emotional victory on home soil at the Genesis Scottish Open.

MacIntyre - who has two top ten finishes in four previous appearances at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic - said: "I’m looking forward to getting back to the Emirates Golf Club in January. It’s a place where I have played well in the past, and it would be great to get the new season off to a strong start again."

Hatton, who claimed his seventh DP World Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October, has four previous top ten finishes at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Englishman has also tasted past success in the region, triumphing in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and is seeking a fifth Rolex Series win. Hatton said: "I always enjoy coming to Dubai and the Emirates Golf Club. I’ve had success in the region in the past so I look forward to getting 2025 off to strong start in the desert."

Scott is also no stranger to success in the Middle East, with the 2013 Masters champion counting two wins in Qatar on his illustrious career record. The Australian also ended one of his best seasons to date on the DP World Tour with a tied third place finish at the DP World Tour Championship on the way to a top 10 finish on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Scott said: "It’s always been an enjoyable experience when I’ve been able to add the Hero Dubai Desert Classic to my early season schedule, and I’ll be aiming to continue and build on the form that I ended 2024 with."

Bhatia will tee it up at the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time. The 22-year-old was a decorated amateur, and represented the United States in the Junior Presidents Cup, Junior Ryder Cup and Walker Cup before turning professional in 2019. He claimed his first DP World Tour and PGA Tour title at the co-sanctioned Barracuda Championship in 2023, adding a second PGA Tour title last year at the Valero Texas Open.

Bhatia said: "I can’t wait to tee it up in the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about the tournament and everything about the week in Dubai, and I’m looking forward to the experience."

McIlroy’s victory in 2024 was not pretty. He defeated Adrian Meronk by a shot after leading by four at one point. Third-round leader Cameron Young came up short once again, finishing third - and is still looking for his first victory in the paid ranks.

McIlroy, who was the defending champion, said: "It feels really cool to have won this tournament for the fourth time. I also finished second last week and I feel like I am playing well. There are still a few things to iron out but the course was playing really difficult this week. I felt at the start of the weekend that I needed to play the last two rounds in 10 under par to give myself a chance to win. And I managed to do it in 11 under and win by one shot. It feels like a great start to my season."

McIlroy was 10 strokes off the halfway lead before charging into contention with a magnificent third round of 63 at Emirates Golf Club, taking him within two shots of Young. 

But he then pulled clear of the field with an impressive final round performance. 

He moved into a share of the lead inside the opening four holes in front of a huge crowd and then took the lead on his own at the sixth after mistakes from Young and Meronk, with back to back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes seeing McIlroy reach the turn with a three-shot lead. McIlroy saw his advantage cut from four to one when Meronk finished with birdies at the 17th and 18th. 

However, McIlroy held on, closing with a two-under 70 to hold off the chasing pack and claim his first win of the year. McIlroy finished with a 72-hole total of 274, 14 under par.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2016 by Danny Willett, in 2017 by Sergio Garcia, in 2018 by Li Haotong, in 2019 by Bryson DeChambeau, in 2020 by Lucas Herbert, in 2021 by Paul Casey, in 2022 by Viktor Hovland and in 2023 and 2024 by Rory McIlroy.

The Course:

Emirates Golf Club is a spectacular par 72 measuring 7,428 yards. The from nine is a par 35 and the back nine, featuring three great par fives, is a par 37. Designed by Karl Litten, it was built in 1988. It was quite literally carved out of the desert and features many waste areas, palm trees, bunkers, water hazards and large putting surfaces. The fairways are pretty generous but miss them at your peril. 

Form Guide:

Rory McIlroy will obviously start as favourite and it is hard to bet against him. He has won this tournament four times and is looking for a third successive triumph.

Prize Money:

The total prize fund is $9m, with the winner collecting around $1.5m, with 8,000 Race to Dubai and 2,000 Ryder Cup points on offer.

How to Watch:

Thursday, January 16, Friday, January 17, Sky Sports Golf, 4am; Saturday, January 18, Sunday, January 19, Sky Sports Golf, 7am.

To Win:

Rory McIlroy. Adores this course

Each Way:

Tyrrell Hatton. In sensational form

Each Way:

Tommy Fleetwood. Always plays well here

Five to Follow:

Rory McIlroy. Defending champion

Tyrrell Hatton. Impossible to ignore

Tommy Fleetwood. Wonderful iron player

Jon Rahm. Has a point to prove

Robert MacIntyre. Walking on air

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Joe Dean. Has found some proper confidence

Andy Sullivan. Showed some glimpses of best form in 2024

Richard Mansell. Terrific ball striker

Joost Luiten. Glorious short game

Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Hugely entertaining