Dubai Desert Classic 2025 LIVE: Tee times, field, leaderboard and how to follow as Hatton trails Hillier but McIlroy improves
Rory McIlroy has made up ground after a difficult start to his 2025 DP World Tour season at the prestigious Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Reigning Race to Dubai champion McIlroy won the Rolex Series event at the Emirates Golf Club en route to his sixth Order of Merit victory last year. McIlroy won his fourth Dubai Desert Classic title last yearGetty The Northern Irishman held off Adrian Meronk to win by one stroke and collect the $1.5million prize. However, McIlroy’s hopes of a fifth Dubai Desert Classic title are hanging by a thread in 12th ahead of the final round. Dubai Desert Classic: Date and how to follow This tournament started on Thursday, January 16, and will run until Sunday, January 19. Play will begin at 7:05am local time which is 3:05am UK time. It is being held at the Emirates Golf Club in the UAE – the course is a par 72 and will measure 7,428 yards. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf with coverage set to begin at 6am each morning in the UK. talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest. LIV star Rahm is in action at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert ClassicGetty Dubai Desert Classic: Field and tee times Ryder Cup superstars McIlroy and Rahm are headlining the field at the Emirates Golf Club. Also teeing it up is Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott. PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia is making his debut in the event. Several of Rahm’s fellow LIV stars have also been in action too including Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton and Meronk again. The latest leaderboard can be found here. Fleetwood loves playing in the Middle EastGetty Upcoming golf tournaments January 26 PGA Tour – Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines, San Diego DP World Tour – Ras Al Khaimah Championship, Al Hamra GC February 2 PGA Tour – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Signature Event) DP World Tour – Bahrain Championship, Royal GC February 9 PGA Tour – WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale, Arizona LIV Golf – Riyadh, Riyadh Golf Club February 16 PGA Tour – Genesis Invitational, Riviera, Pacific Palisades (Signature Event) LIV Golf – Adelaide, The Grange Golf Club February 23 PGA Tour – Mexico Open at VidantaWorld DP World Tour – Magical Kenya Open, Muthaiga GC, Nairobi Dubai Desert Classic: What has been said? “I got off to a bit of a slow start again. I played much better on the back nine,” said McIlroy ahead of the final round. “I hit the ball well. The conditions are tough. It’s windy and hard to get the ball close to the flags. “I would have liked to have shot a few shots better but I’m happy with how I played.”
Rory McIlroy has made up ground after a difficult start to his 2025 DP World Tour season at the prestigious Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Reigning Race to Dubai champion McIlroy won the Rolex Series event at the Emirates Golf Club en route to his sixth Order of Merit victory last year.
The Northern Irishman held off Adrian Meronk to win by one stroke and collect the $1.5million prize.
However, McIlroy’s hopes of a fifth Dubai Desert Classic title are hanging by a thread in 12th ahead of the final round.
Dubai Desert Classic: Date and how to follow
This tournament started on Thursday, January 16, and will run until Sunday, January 19.
Play will begin at 7:05am local time which is 3:05am UK time.
It is being held at the Emirates Golf Club in the UAE – the course is a par 72 and will measure 7,428 yards.
The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf with coverage set to begin at 6am each morning in the UK.
talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest.
Dubai Desert Classic: Field and tee times
Ryder Cup superstars McIlroy and Rahm are headlining the field at the Emirates Golf Club.
Also teeing it up is Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott.
PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia is making his debut in the event.
Several of Rahm’s fellow LIV stars have also been in action too including Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton and Meronk again.
The latest leaderboard can be found here.
Upcoming golf tournaments
January 26
- PGA Tour – Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines, San Diego
- DP World Tour – Ras Al Khaimah Championship, Al Hamra GC
February 2
- PGA Tour – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Signature Event)
- DP World Tour – Bahrain Championship, Royal GC
February 9
- PGA Tour – WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale, Arizona
- LIV Golf – Riyadh, Riyadh Golf Club
February 16
- PGA Tour – Genesis Invitational, Riviera, Pacific Palisades (Signature Event)
- LIV Golf – Adelaide, The Grange Golf Club
February 23
- PGA Tour – Mexico Open at VidantaWorld
- DP World Tour – Magical Kenya Open, Muthaiga GC, Nairobi
Dubai Desert Classic: What has been said?
“I got off to a bit of a slow start again. I played much better on the back nine,” said McIlroy ahead of the final round.
“I hit the ball well. The conditions are tough. It’s windy and hard to get the ball close to the flags.
“I would have liked to have shot a few shots better but I’m happy with how I played.”
