The DP World Tour is back from its early-season break, with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic kicking off the International Swing section of the season’s Global Swing phase. This tournament, first introduced in 1989, has seen high-profile winners like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Seve Ballesteros, and Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy, a four-time champion, aims for a fifth title and a shot at the $1.5m first prize from the $9m total purse. The field at Emirates Golf Club includes top players like Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, and Tyrrell Hatton.
The Dubai Desert Classic is the first of five Rolex Series events in 2025, offering the second-largest prize fund of the year on the DP World Tour. This prize fund of $9m will be matched by three other Rolex Series events, including the Genesis Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship, and Abu Dhabi Championship. The season will culminate with the $10m DP World Tour Championship in November. In a rare occurrence, this week’s DP World Tour event offers a larger purse than its PGA Tour counterpart, with $8.5m available at The American Express event in California.
In addition to the prize money, players at the Dubai Desert Classic are competing for 8,000 Race To Dubai points and 2,000 Ryder Cup points. The tournament’s prize money breakdown includes payouts ranging from $1.53m for the winner to $38,700 for 50th place. Notable names in the field alongside McIlroy include Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Patrick Reed, Adrian Meronk, and Thomas Pieters.
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is one of the DP World Tour’s premier events, attracting a strong field of top players, including McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm, Hatton, Bhatia, Hovland, and Reed. With a prize fund of $9m, the tournament offers significant financial rewards for the players, with the winner taking home $1.53m. In addition to the prize money, players have the opportunity to earn valuable Race To Dubai and Ryder Cup points.
In conclusion, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is a prestigious event on the DP World Tour schedule, featuring a competitive field of top players vying for a share of the $9m prize purse. With star names like McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm, Hatton, and Reed in the mix, fans can expect thrilling competition and high-stakes drama on the course. Stay tuned for updates on the tournament and follow your favorite players as they battle for glory in the desert.
