
Europe's best players will compete in the Middle East at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Here's everything you need to know about the DP World Tour event.
Following last week's seemingly successful launch of the long-awaited TGL Golf League, Rory McIlroy heads to the UAE to lead the field at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in a bid to defend his title and returns as a four-time champion. The event kicks off the prestigious DP World Tour Rolex Series, which offers increased prize money and competition for Duabi points.
Firmly determined to become the best European golfer of all time, McIlroy took a giant step towards that feat in 2024 by winning the Medal of Honor for a sixth time, tying him with the great Seve Valles Seve Ballesteros. He started a year of highs and lows with a strong performance in the Middle East 12 months ago, finishing second behind team-mate Tommy Fleetwood at the Dubai Invitational before beating Adrian by one shot Meronque, back-to-back Dubai Desert Classic champions.
However, the new Boston Park boss has his work cut out for him if he wants to score a hat-trick and claim a fifth title. Not only will he have to overcome one of the strongest rosters in the DPWT, but he'll also have to outlast a slew of LIV stars including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.

Who are the competitors in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic?
Six LIV Tour players will compete this week. In addition to Legion XIII team-mates Lahm and Hatton, last year's runners-up Adrian Meronque, Patrick Reed, Thomas Peters and Dean Burmeister also competed. So does the next much-rumored defector, Tom McKibbin.
Highly acclaimed American Akshay Bhatia and new ambassador Travis Mathew add more stardust to the field alongside Europe's finest stars. Ryder Cup champions Tommy Fleetwood, Robert McIntyre, Nikola Hoygaard and Viktor Hovland will also take part, along with three legends of the sport – Adam Scott , Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
See the finalized fields here.

Where is the Hero Dubai Desert Classic held?
The Dubai Desert Classic is held at the Emirates Golf Club on the outskirts of the city. Emirates GC has hosted every edition of the event since its inception in 1989, with the exception of the 1999 and 2000 events, which were held at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
The tournament is held at the world-famous Maljis Course, a par-72 course measuring 7,428 yards and widely regarded as one of the best golf courses in the Middle East. Designed by American architect Karl Litten, it was also the first grass court in the Middle East and its name comes from the Arabic word meaning “gathering place”. Ernie Els holds the course record with an 11-under 61, which dates back to January 27, 1994.

What is the format of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic?
This is a standard stroke play event, played over 72 holes, with elimination rounds after 36 holes (two rounds), with the top 65 players and the tied players advancing to the final two rounds. The player with the lowest score over the four rounds wins the game.
Who will win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic?
Selected Odds: TBD
How much will the winner of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic receive?
The winner will take home $1.53 million, which is consistent with what McIlroy has won over the past two seasons. Prize money totals $9,000,000 – only the end-of-season DP World Tour Championship tops $10 million. There are also 8,000 Race to Dubai points and 2,000 Ryder Cup points.
Over the course of the event's 35-year history, prize money has increased significantly, as shown below.
Year | winner | bonus | winner's share |
1989 | Mark James | $450,000 | $75,000 |
1990 | Eamonn Darcy | $450,000 | $75,000 |
1991 | Canceled (Gulf War) | That | That |
1992 | Seve Ballesteros | $650,000 | $108,333 |
1993 | Wayne Westner | $500,000 | $83,333 |
1994 | Ernie Els | $700,000 | $116,667 |
1995 | Fred Couples | $700,000 | $116,667 |
1996 | Colin Montgomery | USD 1,000,000 | $166,667 |
1997 | Richard Green | $1,200,000 | $200,000 |
1998 | Jose Maria Olazabal | $1,300,000 | $216,667 |
1999 | David Howell | $1,300,000 | $216,667 |
2000 | Jose Coceres | $1,300,000 | $216,667 |
2001 | Thomas Bjorn | $1,500,000 | $250,000 |
2002 | Ernie Els | $1,500,000 | $250,000 |
2003 | Robert Young-Derkesen | USD 2,000,000 | $333,333 |
2004 | Mark O'Meara | USD 2,000,000 | $333,333 |
2005 | Ernie Els | $2,200,000 | $366,667 |
2006 | Tiger Woods | $2,400,000 | $309,862 |
2007 | Henrik Stenson | $2,400,000 | $309,862 |
2008 | Tiger Woods | USD 2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2009 | Rory McIlroy | USD 2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2010 | Miguel Angel Jiminez | USD 2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2011 | Alvaro Quiros | USD 2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2012 | Rafa Cabrera-Bello | $2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2013 | Stephen Gallagher | USD 2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2014 | Stephen Gallagher | USD 2,500,000 | $416,750 |
2015 | Rory McIlroy | $2,650,000 | $441,755 |
2016 | Danny Willett | $2,650,000 | $441,755 |
2017 | Sergio Garcia | $2,650,000 | $441,755 |
2018 | Haotong Li | USD 3,000,000 | $500,100 |
2019 | Brian DeChambeau | $3,250,000 | $541,660 |
2020 | Lucas Herbert | $3,250,000 | $541,660 |
2021 | Paul Casey | $3,250,000 | $528,514 |
2022 | Victor Hovland | US$8,000,000 | $1,333,330 |
2023 | Rory McIlroy | USD 9,000,000 | $1,530,000 |
2024 | Rory McIlroy | USD 9,000,000 | $1,530,000 |
Who won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic?
The inaugural Dubai Desert Classic was the first European Tour event to be held on the Arabian Peninsula and has since been won by some of the tournament's biggest names, including McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Sevi Ba Lesteros, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau.

How to watch the Hero Dubai Desert Classic
U.S. viewers can watch the four days of action on the Golf Channel and NBC Sports.
All times ET
Thursday, January 16: Golf Channel, TBA
Friday, January 17: Golf Channel, TBA
Saturday, January 18: Golf Channel, TBA
Sunday, January 19: Golf Channel, TBA
Viewers in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports Golf.
All timesGMT
Thursday, January 16:Sky Sports Golf, 04.00
Friday, January 17:Sky Sports Golf, 04.00
Saturday, January 18: Sky Sports Golf, 07.00
Sunday, January 19: Sky Sports Golf, 07.00
Hero Dubai Desert Classic: Tee Time
Kick-off times and brackets will appear here once posted.
How is the DP world tour schedule planned?
The 2025 DP World Tour schedule is divided into five “rounds”. The inaugural swing will feature six tournaments in Australia, South Africa and Mauritius in late 2024. The International Swing will run until March 9, with competitions in the UAE, Bahrain, Kenya and South Africa, followed by the five-event Asian Swing, six European Swings and five closing Swings.
As the name suggests, the “back nine” will host a further nine events in Europe, including the British Masters, Irish Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, before the season concludes with the lucrative DP World Tour Play-offs . Abu Dhabi Championship and DP World Tour Championship.
There will be five Rolex Series events in 2025, starting with this week’s Hero Event. Dubai Desert Classic. The Genesis Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship, Abu Dhabi Championship and the end-of-season DP World Tour Championship are other premium events that will offer significant prize money.
About the author

Ross Tugwood – Senior Digital Writer
Ross Tugwood is a senior digital writer at Todays-golfer.com, focusing on data, analytics, science and innovation.
Ross is passionate about optimizing athletic performance and has ten years’ experience working with professional athletes and coaches at British Athletics, British Institute of Sport and Team GB.
He is an NCTJ certified journalist with graduate degrees in performance analysis and sports journalism, which allows him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make more informed purchasing decisions.