Five things to know: Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Rory McIlroy goes in search of a record-breaking fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic title at the opening Rolex Series event of the year on the DP World Tour. Here are your five things to know.

First Rolex Series event of the year

The International Swing began with Tommy Fleetwood’s victory in the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort on Sunday, and continues with the first Rolex Series event of the year at Emirates Golf Club.

As in previous years, the Rolex Series will be a consistent thread throughout the course of the season with five events that represent the premium category of events on the DP World Tour.

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic, which is in its third consecutive year with Rolex Series status, takes its place as the opening event this week for the first time. The Abu Dhabi Championship held that position for five years but moves to November to become the penultimate event of the calendar, followed by the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The other two events will be the Genesis Scottish Open, and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.

Defending champion McIlroy goes in search of historic fourth win

Rory McIlroy became just the second man in history to win the Dubai Desert Classic three times when he earned his record-equalling victory at Emirates Golf Club last year to move alongside Ernie Els, who won the title in 1994, 2002 and 2005.

It was a particularly special victory for McIlroy, who finished with back-to-back birdies to win by one shot and finally earn his first Rolex Series title, and 15th victory on the DP World Tour – at the same venue he claimed his first.

It began a year of success for McIlroy that included a second Rolex Series victory at the Genesis Scottish Open, and ended with a second consecutive and fifth Race to Dubai title. Now, the European Number One returns this year with a positive attitude following a second place finish at the Dubai Invitational to Ryder Cup team-mate Fleetwood on Sunday.

"I think for the first week back out, it was really positive," he said.

"Looking back on today: a tee-shot in the water with an iron on the front nine, had that three-putt from three feet on the par three and then the water ball on the last.

"I think first week back out, I think you're going to expect some of those sloppy mistakes and unfortunately for me those mistakes came at the wrong time today.

"But I'll reflect on it and learn from today and there's still a lot of good stuff in there. I just need to tidy up some of the edges, and if I do that, I feel good going into next week."

Iconic event

This week marks the 35th anniversary of the Dubai Desert Classic, the DP World Tour’s longest-running event in the Middle East. First played in 1989, the tournament has been hosted at Emirates Golf Club on all but two occasions ­- when Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club staged the event in 1999 and 2000. The 1991 edition was not held due to the Gulf War.

Long established as one of the most highly anticipated events on the calendar, many of the world’s best golfers have enjoyed success here including defending champion McIlroy, Ernie Els and Tiger Woods - who are all multiple winners of this tournament. Els claimed his first DP World Tour title here 30 years ago, which was a week where he set a course record of 61 that still stands today.

Seven of the last eight editions of the tournament have seen first-time winners, with Viktor Hovland becoming the first Norwegian winner of a Rolex Series event in 2022.

Inside the field

Four-time Major Champion McIlroy is joined by a stellar field which includes 2024 Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Nicolai Højgaard – who claimed the season-ending DP World Tour Championship last November – and Captain Luke Donald. 2023 Vice Captains Francesco and Edoardo Molinari are both playing this week too, in addition to past Captains Pádraig Harrington and Thomas Bjørn.

Joining them are a host of winners from the 2023 season, including Adrian Meronk, Rasmus Højgaard, Yannik Paul, Marcel Siem, Dan Bradbury – who carded the lowest round of the Dubai Desert Classic last year with a 63 – and Ryan Fox, who earned his first Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship in September.

2013 Masters Champion Adam Scott also returns to the Majlis course for the second time in three years after his top ten here in 2022, while 2023 Open Champion Brian Harman and fellow American Cameron Young make their first appearances in the event.

Sustainability at the Dubai Desert Classic

Last year’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic became the first event in the Middle East and first Rolex Series event to achieve GEO Certified® Tournament status. The distinction is awarded and assured by the international non-profit GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, and is based on the strength of commitment, breadth and depth of action, and range of tangible measured impacts across a broad sustainability agenda.

Following on from initiatives implemented in 2023, there are several new sustainability initiatives at this year’s tournament: Those include an aim to increase the % of waste diverted from landfill from last year (53%) with waste service provide Dulsco; Solar energy will be expanded to power the Tournament Operations office, the Media Centre, and the fan area between the 11th and 15th holes, in addition to a permanent solar array in the car park that supplies the clubhouse, a 100 metre solar array provided by Aggreko powering the site, and rooftop units and panels near the 15th. Alongside further activations, there will also be a new Mental Fitness and Recovery Zone for players to meet with experts and discuss their mental fitness and wellbeing.