2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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2025 Hero Dubai Classic Primer Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm tees off on the 18th hole during a Pro-Am prior to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates GC on Jan 15, 2025 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird via Getty Images)

Following a week in Abu Dhabi, the European Tour travels just an hour north for the 36th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.

Debuting in 1989, the Dubai Desert Classic was the first major tour event staged in the Middle East.

The 126-player field is headlined by world No. 3 Rory McIlroy, who seeks a record-extending fifth Dubai title, and two-time major winner Jon Rahm.

Additional marquee names in the UAE this week include Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Adam Scott, Tyrrell Hatton, and Patrick Reed, among others.


The Skinny

2025 Hero Dubai Classic Primer Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy walks on the 13th hole with his caddie Harry Diamond during a Pro-Am prior to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates GC on Jan 15, 2025 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by Richard Heathcote via Getty Images)

Tournament: Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Dates: Jan. 16-19, 2025
European Tour Debut: 1989
European Tour Week: 6th (of 42)
TV Network: GOLF Channel
Golf Club: Emirates Golf Club
Course: Majlis Course
Locale: Dubai, UAE
Distance: 7424 yards, Par 72
Architect: Karl Litten, 1988
Field 132 players
Format: 36-hole cut, 72-hole stroke
Purse: $9,000,000
Win Share: $1,530,000
OWGR Points: 34
2024 Champion: Rory McIlroy


How to Follow the Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Sergio Garcia Dubai Desert Classic
Sergio Garcia plays a shot during the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club on Feb 5, 2017 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by Francois Nel via Getty Images)

TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 2:30-8 a.m. ET (GOLF); Sat-Sun: 2-8 a.m. (GOLF)

CONTENT FEED: EuropeanTour.com

LINKS: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X


Hero Dubai Desert Classic History

Seve Ballesteros Dubai Desert Classic
Seve Ballesteros poses with the trophy after winning the 1992 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club on Feb 9, 1992 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by David Cannon via Getty Images)

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic, originally titled the ‘Karl Litten Desert Classic,’ has been a part of the European Tour’s schedule since 1989.

Englishman Mark James was the inaugural winner, edging Aussie Peter O’Malley in a playoff.

Emirates Airlines took the role of title sponsor the following year (1990) which saw Irishman Eamonn Darcy score a four-shot victory over Northern Ireland’s David Feherty.

After a year off in 1991 due to the Gulf War, the Dubai Desert Classic returned in 1992 with the legendary Seve Ballesteros taking home the title in a playoff over Northern Irishman Ronan Rafferty.

2025 Hero Dubai Classic Primer History Ernie Els Greg Norman
1993 tournament winner Wayne Westner of South Africa (L), 1994 runner-up Greg Norman of Australia (C) and 1994 tournament winner Ernie Els of South Africa (R) await the trophy presentation of the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates GC on Jan 30, 1994 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by Keith Hailey for Popperfoto via Getty Images)

In 1994, Ernie Els won his first career European tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic. Six months later, Els would win his first major at the 1994 U.S. Open. The Big Easy was off and running.

With the exception of the 1999 and 2000 editions held at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, the “Desert Classic” has been played on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club.

In 2010, Omega became the first title sponsor in 20 years. The watchmaker’s name stayed in the title for 12 straight editions, ending in 2021.

In 2022, the event became part of the Rolex Series, offering an increased prize fund of $8,000,000 (USD), while Slync.io, a logistics tech company, was announced as the title sponsor.

The 2023 edition saw the purse increased to $9 million and Hero Motors signing on as the title sponsor.

Alongside Ballesteros, other notable winners include Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara, Jose Maria Olazabal, and Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy Wins 2023 Dubai Desert Classic
Rory McIlroy celebrates victory with caddie Harry Diamond on the 18th green after winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates GC on Jan 30, 2023 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird via Getty Images)

McIlroy holds the record with four wins, one ahead of Els who owns three titles. Woods and Stephen Gallacher are two-time winners.

The tournament’s claim to fame is that it was the first live event broadcast on Golf Channel (1995).

History: Recent Winners

2024: Rory McIlroy (-14)
2023: Rory McIlroy (-19)
2022: Viktor Hovland (-12)
2021: Paul Casey (-17)
2020: Lucas Herbert (-9)
2019: Bryson DeChambeau (-24)
2018: Li Haotong (-23)
2017: Sergio Garcia (-19)
2016: Danny Willett (-19)
2015: Rory McIlroy (-22)

History: Records

Wins:
4 – Rory McIlroy (2009, 2015, 2023-24)
3 – Ernie Els (2005, 2002, 1994)
72-hole Score: 264 (-24) – Bryson DeChambeau (2019)
18-Hole Score: 61 – Ernie Els (1994)


Hero Dubai Desert Classic Field

Viktor Hovland Wins Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic 2022
Viktor Hovland points to his photograph on the wall of champions after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic on the Majlis Course at The Emirates GC on Jan 30, 2022 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by David Cannon via Getty Images)

The field this week in Dubai is headlined by Rory McIlroy who is seeking a fifth Dubai Desert Classic titles.

The angry Northern Irishman will be joined by a slew of big-time names, including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed, Viktor Hovland, Adam Scott, and Tommy Fleetwood.

Other marquee names include Robert MacIntyre, Rasmus Hojgaard, Thomas Pieters, Dean Burmester, Adrian Meronk, Akshay Bhatia, Min Woo Lee and Tom McKibbin.

2025 Hero Dubai Classic Primer Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton plays a shot during his practice round prior to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates GC on Jan 14, 2025 in Dubai, UAE. (Photo by David Cannon via Getty Images)
Top-5 Betting Favorites

Book Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Rory McIlroy (4-1)
2. Jon Rahm 6-1
3. Tyrrell Hatton (10-1)
4. Tommy Fleetwood (12-1)
5. Rasmus Hojgaard (18-1)
5. Viktor Hovland (18-1)

Full Field & Odds

Hero Dubai Desert Classic | Emirates GC | Dubai, UAE | Jan 26-29, 2023


Credits: European Tour Media, Getty Images


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