Dubai Desert Classic 2025 LIVE: Tee times, field, leaderboard and how to follow as Hatton trails Hillier but McIlroy improves

Rory McIlroy has made up for a difficult start to his 2025 DP World Tour season at the prestigious Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Reigning Race to Dubai champion McIlroy won the Rolex Series event at Emirates Golf Club en route to his sixth Order of Merit win last year.

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The Northern Irishman held off Adrian Meronk to win by one stroke and collect the $1.5 million prize.

However, McIlroy’s hopes of a fifth Dubai Desert Classic title hang by a thread in 12th place ahead of the final round.

Dubai Desert Classic: Date and How to Follow

This tournament started on Thursday, January 16th and will run until Sunday, January 19th.

The game starts at 7.05 local time, which is 03.05 UK time.

It will be held at the Emirates Golf Club in the UAE – the course is a par 72 and will measure 7,428 yards.

The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf with coverage set to begin at 06.00 every morning in the UK.

talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest.

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Dubai Desert Classic: Field and tee times

Ryder Cup superstars McIlroy and Rahm headline the course at Emirates Golf Club.

It’s also Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott.

PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia will make his debut in the event.

Several of Rahm’s other LIV stars have also been in action, including Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton and Meronk again.

The latest ranking list can be found here.

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Dubai Desert Classic: What has been said?

“I got off to a bit of a slow start again. I played a lot better on the back nine,” McIlroy said ahead of the final round.

“I hit the ball well. The conditions are tough. It’s windy and hard to get the ball close to the flags.

“I would have liked to hit a few shots better, but I’m happy with how I played.”