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McIlroy eyes fifth title in 20th anniversary of playing the Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2 and a recent career Grand Slam champion, has his eyes set on a fifth Hero Dubai Desert Classic title as he marks the 20th anniversary of making his debut as a potentially world-beating teenager with an unruly mop of thick, curly hair in 2006.
The Northern Irishman was just a 16-year-old when he was handed an invite to play in the tournament that has often been called the ‘Major of Middle East’.
Now one of the most recognised and decorated sportsperson in the world, McIlroy revealed his focus for the 2026 DP World Tour campaign as he targets a fifth Rolex Series title – three of which have come in Dubai.
It’s a city McIlroy made home for nearly three years of his early professional career before moving to the United States, and Dubai Desert Classic is his first win as a professional, way back in 2009.
On the eve of this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, offering a whopping purse of $9 million, McIlroy said: “I love Dubai. It holds so many great memories for me, first of which was coming here as a 16-year-old and playing in the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time as an amateur, and I played twice as an amateur.
“In 2007, I made the cut, and that got me to world number one in the amateur rankings, and two years later, I won my first professional event here. So it’s a lot of great memories. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way. Honestly, I’ve always felt like it was a perfect place to start the year.”
McIlroy reflects on career Grand Slam
In 2025, McIlroy enjoyed a stupendous year when he became only the sixth male player in history to complete the career Grand Slam with victory at the Masters last April. Later in the year, he won his seventh Race to Dubai crown. He was also part of the European Ryder Cup winning team in the US in September, apart from winning the Players Championship and Pebble Beach on the PGA Tour. He also won the Amgen Irish Open title playing before a doting home crowd.
Despite a momentous year, the 36-year-old insists he will not rest on his laurels and will bring the same hunger and enthusiasm to every event he tees it up in, including this week at Emirates Golf Club.
“I think I need to show up at tournaments with enthusiasm every single time,” said McIlroy. “Playing in the places that I want to play, playing the tournaments I want to play. Not feeling like I’m at a tournament because I’m obligated or have to be there, but because I want to be there.
“I think it’s bringing that attitude and knowing my limitations. I’ve always said the results will take care of themselves if you do the other things right, and I think this year my focus is just doing the other things right. Then, I feel like I am a good enough golfer and the results will take care of themselves.”
Fleetwood, Lowry, Hovland in contention
Also in the field are the world No. 3 Tommy Fleetwood, the defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, Ireland’s 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry and Norway’s Viktor Hovland.
Hatton, who now plays on the LIV Golf Tour, said: “It’s always great to be here playing this event. This is my 13th year on Tour, and this was always one of the events I looked forward to playing or hoped that I would play in one day.
“I remember as a kid, I’d wake up early before going to school and I’d enjoy watching this event on TV. So, to play in this event and to come back here as defending champion is somewhat surreal, but very special and I always enjoy starting my season here.”
Hatton is a five-time Rolex Series champion and a repeat victory at Hero Dubai Desert Classic would see him move clear of Ryder Cup team-mate and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm as the most successful Rolex Series player since its inception in 2017 on the DP World Tour.
