RORY MCILROY, PÁDRAIG Harrington and Tom McKibbin all sit five shots off the early lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The trio carded opening rounds of two-under 70 at Emirates Golf Club. That leaves them five off the early lead shared by Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and David Micheluzzi of Australia.

Rory McIlroy’s twin wins at the Emirates Golf Club in the past two years could scarcely have evoked more contrasting responses. When he defended his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title last year, he was a picture of contentment.

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.

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Rory McIlroy is making his 2025 debut in the desert. He will be joined by Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

The Majlis Course promises to present a tougher challenge for the 36th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic—a prospect that four-time champion Rory McIlroy is relishing. Few know the Majlis Course as intimately as the Northern Irishman,

The four-time Major winner was spotted using a unique training aid on the range at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, specifically a small golf club