Top Golfers to Compete at 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tournament

Photo: AFP 

World-class golfers from around the globe are set to gather for the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with defending champion Rory McIlroy leading the charge. The tournament, regarded as one of the most prestigious events on the DP World Tour, will take place from January 16-19 at the iconic Emirates Golf Club. This year’s field is being hailed as one of the strongest in recent memory.

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Rory McIlroy, a four-time Major champion and the reigning European Number One, will headline the event. He will be joined by global stars such as Viktor Hovland, who returns to the Majlis Course for the first time since his victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in 2022.

Adding to the excitement, McIlroy and Hovland will compete alongside their Ryder Cup teammates, including Jon Rahm. The Spanish golfer, a two-time Major winner, will make his debut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Other Ryder Cup stars in the lineup include Olympic Silver Medallist Tommy Fleetwood, Rolex Series champions Tyrrell Hatton, Nicolai Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre, and European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald.

The event also boasts an impressive lineup of Major champions. Fans will see Pádraig Harrington, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott, and Jimmy Walker in action. Additionally, Rolex Series winners Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Thomas Pieters, and Dubai-based golfer Paul Waring, who recently won the Abu Dhabi tournament in November, will compete for the iconic Dallah trophy.

Excitement surrounds the debut appearances of rising stars like two-time PGA TOUR winner Akshay Bhatia and American Amateur David Ford. Ford, ranked number one in the PGA TOUR University Ranking, earned his place at the event and will be joined by fellow Walker Cup player Preston Summerhays. These young players highlight the Hero Dubai Desert Classic’s commitment to supporting emerging talent and giving them opportunities to play at the highest level.

Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, who narrowly defeated McIlroy at the 2024 Amgen Irish Open and finished second to him in the 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, is also part of the field. A host of DP World Tour winners, including Laurie Canter, Tom McKibbin, Jordan Smith, Matt Wallace, Matthew Jordan, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Niklas Nørgaard, Thorbjørn Olesen, and Romain Langasque, will add to the tournament’s depth.

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, expressed his excitement about the star-studded lineup. He said, “We’re thrilled to host such a strong and exciting field this year. From Major champions and Ryder Cup stars to emerging talents, the 2025 edition promises unforgettable moments for both players and fans. As the first Rolex Series event of the season, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic continues to set the standard for world-class golf and provides a spectacular start to the Race to Dubai.”

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic promises thrilling action, world-class competition, and memorable moments as golf’s biggest names come together to battle for glory at the Emirates Golf Club.