Rory McIlroy is making his 2025 debut in the desert. He will be joined by Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

A determined Tyrrell Hatton looks good value to topple McIlroy, Rahm and the rest of the Dubai Desert Classic field this week. He scored three and a half points from four matches in the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, warming up nicely for Dubai.

Golf betting expert Dave Tindall's three first-round leader tips for the Dubai Desert Classic 2025 including Paul Waring at 60/1 this week on the Betfair Sportsbook

Viktor Hovland is deep in the Nashville swing instructor scene. His new instructor, TJ Yeaton, is based out of Belle Meade. Big step up for him. He sent me a video breakdown of my swing Saturday. Now he’s working with Hovland. pic.twitter.com/Rr77j1ywaU

Rory McIlroy will be bidding to make more history in the UAE this weekend when he tees it up at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club from Thursday. Defending champ McIlroy will become the first player to win the tournament three times in a row if he retains the Dallah Trophy this weekend.

The field at this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic features an impressive array of runners, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Min Woo Lee, Robert MacIntyre,

Hero Dubai Desert Classic purse is $9 million, with the winner's share at $1,530,000 -- the standard 17 percent payout according to the European Tour's prize money distribution chart. The 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic field is headed by Rory McIlroy,