The Dubai Desert Classic is the latest action on the DP World Tour golf schedule this week. A world-class field will get their tournaments underway on Thursday, January 16, with the champion crowned in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
This event has been staged at the Emirates Golf Club throughout its history, with the only exceptions coming in 1999 and 2000. A talented field of players will be in action this weekend, as the race is on to win the $9 million purse.
Offshore Odds: McIlroy Favored to Defend Title
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | +400 |
| Jon Rahm | +600 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +1000 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1400 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | +2000 |
| Robert MacIntyre | +2200 |
| Adam Scott | +2500 |
Dubai Desert Classic Recent Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Rory McIlroy |
| 2023 | Rory McIlroy |
| 2022 | Viktor Hovland |
| 2021 | Paul Casey |
| 2020 | Lucas Herbert |
| 2019 | Bryson DeChambeau |
| 2018 | Li Haotong |
| 2017 | Sergio Garcia |
| 2016 | Danny Willett |
Dubai Desert Classic: Event Information
| Stat | Information |
|---|---|
| Course | Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE |
| Par | 72 |
| Yards Covered | 428 Yards |
| Prize Fund | $9 Million |
| First Held | 1989 |
| Tournament Par Record | Bryson DeChambeau (-24) |
| Tournament Aggregate Record | Bryson DeChambeau (264) |
Event Preview
The stars will be out in Dubai this week, as the Desert Classic has attracted a typically red-hot field of world-class competitors. This event has been staged annually since 1989, with players covering a total of 7,428 yards in the UAE.
Rory McIlroy may not have ended his long wait for a major last season, but his performances on the DP World Tour ensured that he was a clear cut winner of the Race to Dubai. McIlroy won two events on the DP World Tour last season, which included victory in the Dubai Desert Classic.
The Northern Irish superstar has now won this event on four occasions, and has looked as professional as ever on his last two efforts, winning on back-to-back occasions. Jon Rahm is an interesting challenger after enduring a challenging year on the LIV Golf circuit. But, he typically starts the calendar year in excellent form, winning the PGA Tour event this weekend on two previous occasions.
Tyrrell Hatton is another player that holds solid claims this weekend. But, Viktor Hovland could be a star that has gone under the radar based on his previous efforts at the Dubai Desert Classic. The Norwegian won the event following a playoff in 2022, and he is hard to write off this weekend.
Dubai Desert Classic Prediction
Plenty of players catch the eye this weekend, but McIlroy has very solid claims based on his previous appearances at this competition. The Northern Irishman has been professional in his last two events, and we fully expect him to begin another season on the DP World Tour with a big win.
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