The Dubai Desert Classic 2025 starts on Thursday! The Golfing Gazette tells you everything you should know from the prize money to predictions and much more.
The new PGA Tour season started two weeks ago with The Sentry, where Hideki Matsuyama won emphatically, and Nick Taylor won the Sony Open via a playoff hole last Sunday.
It’s now time for the DP World Tour season to kick off and it’s certainly an event worth watching, as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are in action.
Here is all the important information about the Dubai Desert Classic 2025.
Everything you need to know about the Dubai Desert Classic 2025
Dubai Desert Classic 2025 dates
The Dubai Desert Classic gets underway on Thursday, January 16, 2025, and the final round is on Sunday, January 19, 2025. It’s the only DP World Tour event this week.
What is the Dubai Desert Classic 2025 course?
The Dubai Desert Classic has taken place on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club since 1989 (besides 1999 and 2000).
Majlis course, Emirates Golf Club
- Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Established: 1988
- Designer: Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG)
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,301 yards
Which players are in the Dubai Desert Classic 2025 field?
The Dubai Desert Classic is headlined by reigning champion Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, but there are plenty of other top players in the field.
European Ryder Cup regulars Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland are also in action, as well as international stars Akshay Bhatia, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee.
Even though the American Express is going ahead on the PGA Tour this week, the DP World Tour probably have the better event on paper.
Dubai Desert Classic 2025 TV coverage (US)
Golf Channel – and NBC Sports app – will show live coverage of the action from the Dubai Desert Classic to fans in the United States.
| Day | Channel (Eastern Time) |
| Thursday | Golf Channel (2:30 – 8:30 a.m.) |
| Friday | Golf Channel (2:30 – 8:30 a.m.) |
| Saturday | Golf Channel (2:30 – 8:30 a.m.) |
| Sunday | Golf Channel (2:30 – 8:30 a.m.) |
What is the Dubai Desert Classic 2025 prize money?
The prize money at the Dubai Desert Classic is $9 million. The event will allocate 17% of the total purse to the winner ($1.53m). The runner-up will receive $990,000, while $567,000 will go to the third place.
Dubai Desert Classic 2025 predictions
The Golfing Gazette writers predict who they think will lift the Dubai Desert Classic trophy on Sunday:
Jordan Harris: Three of Tommy Fleetwood’s seven DP World Tour wins have come in the Middle East, with the latest at last year’s Dubai Invitational. He was absolutely sensational at last week’s Team Cup, becoming the only player to beat Matthieu Pavon. So the Englishman could be the man to stop Rory McIlroy winning this event for a fifth time.
Sam Stone: Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm will be well-fancied here but I am backing Tyrrell Hatton to remind everyone of his presence this week. The LIV star contended in the UAE at the back end of 2024 and is more than capable of winning when at his best. He was also excellent at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi. Hatton to win for me.
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