McIlroy chases historic fifth title as stage set for Dubai Desert Classic

The stage is set for the 37th Hero Dubai Desert Classic as the world’s best golfers begin arriving at Emirates Golf Club ahead of the first Rolex Series event of the 2026 Race to Dubai season, which runs from Thursday to Sunday.

With preparations in the final stages and players already familiarising themselves with the iconic Majlis Course, anticipation is building for what promises to be a spectacular week of world-class golf and entertainment at the ‘Major of the Middle East’.

Record four-time champion Rory McIlroy returns to the tournament where he made his debut as a fresh-faced 16-year-old in 2006, marking the 20th anniversary of his first appearance.

The reigning Masters champion and five-time Major winner will be chasing a historic fifth Dallah Trophy alongside a stellar field that includes defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, former World Number One Dustin Johnson, FedEx Cup Champion Tommy Fleetwood, 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry, 2022 HDDC champion Viktor Hovland, Rolex Series winner Nicolai Højgaard, and PGA Tour victor Ryan Fox and rising star Tom McKibbin.

Former world number one and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald also returns to Dubai, bringing experience and pedigree to the line-up, while UAE national golfer Ahmad Skaik joins the field as a professional for the first time, highlighting the tournament’s continued commitment to supporting regional talent.

Behind the scenes, meticulous efforts have been made to prepare the Majlis Course to championship standard. Matthew Perry, Course Superintendent at Emirates Golf Club, oversees a team of more than 100 who work while most of the UAE is sleeping to ensure the golf course lives up to its reputation as one of the very best in world golf.

“Preparations have gone really, really well for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic,” said Perry.

“We came out of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in a good place back in October, which really set us up nicely to push through and get things ready. All areas are in good condition – the greens are in great shape and we’re now reducing heights and increasing cuts and rolls to get the speed required by the Tour.

“The team has worked tremendously hard over the last couple of weeks building up to this tournament, and we expect really good feedback from the players. We always set very high standards given it being a Rolex Series event and such a prestigious tournament. One thing we really focused on last year was tidying all the desert areas, which are now presenting very well. Overall, I’m really happy with the course condition going into event week – it gets the juices flowing for what will be a busy week for us, but also a rewarding one.”

During tournament week, the agronomy team grows to include 105 staff members, including seconded personnel from Yas Links, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates, all working together to ensure every blade of grass meets the exacting standards expected at a Rolex Series event.

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, said: “The synergy between our tournament operations team and the Dubai Golf agronomy team is vital to delivering a world-class event. The work that Matt and his team do is remarkable – bringing the course to peak condition at exactly the right time is an exact science, and they deliver year after year to championship standards. With our strongest field in recent memory and preparations running smoothly, we’re ready to welcome players and fans for what promises to be a thrilling 37th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.”

The 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic has evolved into a complete festival of golf, with Tournament Town positioned as the social heart of the event.