Rory McIlroy is headed back to the Middle East in January 2025.
He will begin his season at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, an event where he has had plenty of success. Last year, after a disappointing first two days, McIlroy soared up the leaderboard with a marvelous 9-under 63 during the third round, which placed him in the final pairing. McIlroy then fended off Adrian Meronk down the stretch, winning by a stroke over the Pole—an impressive bounce back considering he blew up on the final hole at the Dubai Invitational the week before.
McIlroy also won at the Emirates Golf Club in 2023, as the Northern Irishman finished one stroke ahead of Patrick Reed. He now eyes a third consecutive title in January and hopes to improve upon his tournament record by winning for a fifth time in 2025.
“I’m thrilled to return to the Emirates Golf Club for the 2025 event. This is a tournament I relish playing, and continuing my run here by adding a fifth title would be really special and an ideal way to kick off 2025,” McIlroy said.
“The support we get in Dubai is always fantastic. It’s an incredible course with a great atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to what is always a competitive event.”
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is always one of the most significant events on the golfing calendar. It will again be the first Rolex Series Event on the DP World Tour, which draws comparisons to the PGA Tour’s Signature Events. Once more, a $9 million purse, one of the largest purses on the DP World Tour, is on the line.
Year in and year out, some of the best players in the world tee it up at this event, hoping to begin their seasons on a high note. Previous winners include Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, and Tiger Woods, who won this tournament in 2006 and 2008.
But nobody has won more than McIlroy, who will undoubtedly arrive in Dubai as the favorite again.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
