Interesting facts about Dubai Desert Classic
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the longest running event in the Middle East. Won by some of the greatest names in the game - including Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, José Maria Olazábal, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy – the tournament helped to pave the way for golf’s presence in the region.
The 36th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the first Rolex Series event of the 2025 season and the first event on the International Swing. The International Swing is the second of five ‘Global Swings’ included on the 2025 Race to Dubai, following the introduction of the new season format in 2024. The International Swing begins with four consecutive events in the Middle East
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic has been hosted at Emirates Golf Club on all but two occasions when it moved to Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in 1999 and 2000.
Hero MotoCorp Ltd. returns as title sponsor for a third consecutive year. Hero MotoCorp, headquartered in New Delhi (India), has been the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters for 24 consecutive years.
The famous “Dallah” trophy design is based on a traditional Arabian Peninsula coffee pot (or Dallah). It is a symbol of hospitality, celebration and generosity
The tournament is supported by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a founding partner of the Dubai Desert Classic and the world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer as well as the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas.
The field includes some of the biggest stars in world golf including defending champion Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and Robert MacIntyre, with notable debutants this year including Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, and Opening Swing winner John Parry.
American Amateur David Ford earned his place as the number one player in the PGA TOUR University Ranking. Ford is joined by fellow 2023 Walker Cup player Preston Summerhays, underlining the tournament’s vision of creating a pathway for young players to gain valuable experience at the highest level.
Ahead of the tournament, McIlroy was presented with the Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour. One of Seve’s son’s, Javier, travelled to Dubai to present the Award.
McIlroy holds the record for the most wins with four (2009, 2015, 2023, 2024). He returns in 2025 with the aim to continue making history by becoming the first five-time winner of the event and the first to win it three times in a row.
He would also be the first player to win a DP World Tour event in three consecutive seasons since Ernie Els at the Heineken Classic in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Only one other player has won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic more than twice – Els in 1994, 2002, and 2005
