Rory McIlroy is scheduled to return to the Middle East in January 2025.
He will start the season at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where he has had much success. Last year, after a disappointing first two days, McIlroy shot an incredible 9-under 63 in the third round to soar up the leaderboard and make the final draw. McIlroy then passed Adrian Melonk in the closing stages and won by one stroke over Paul. It was an impressive rebound considering he exploded on the final hole at the Dubai Invitational the week before.
McIlroy also won at Emirates Golf Club in 2023, with the Northern Irishman finishing one stroke ahead of Patrick Reed. He is currently aiming for his third straight victory in January, and hopes to break the tournament record by winning for a fifth time in 2025.
“I am very happy to be returning to Emirates Golf Club for the 2025 event. This is a tournament that I am looking forward to and to continue my run by winning my fifth title here is really special. “It would be an ideal way to kick off 2025,” McIlroy said.
“The support we get in Dubai is always great. It’s a great course with a great atmosphere and we always look forward to a competitive event.”
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is always one of the most important events on the golf calendar. This will once again be the first Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour to be compared to the PGA Tour's signature event. Once again, a $9 million purse is at stake, one of the biggest purses on the DP World Tour.
Every year, some of the best players in the world take part in this event, hoping to start the season on a good note. Previous winners include Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, and Tiger Woods, who won the tournament in 2006 and 2008.
But no one has won more than McIlroy. McIlroy will undoubtedly come to Dubai as the favorite to win again.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
