The DP World Tour remains in the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Desert Classic, the second consecutive event in the Rolex Series after last weekend’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championsip. As always, the new year’s calendar immediately offers two of the most important tournaments and certainly with the highest prize pools of the entire season.
Last year, Viktor Hovland triumphed here on the Emirates Golf Course. The Norwegian will not be present this week and therefore will not defend his title.
Rory McIlory, schedule
Despite Hovland’s absence, the quality of the Desert Classic field will be of great depth: obviously the name of Rory McIlroy stands out above all, number 1 in the world rankings and two-time winner of this tournament.
The main challengers from the Northern Irishman will be Shane Lowry, last week’s winner Victor Perez, as well as Thomas Pieters, without forgetting the large English platoon which also features big names such as Tyrrel Hatton, Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood and Richard Bland.
As for the Italians, there will be only three at the start, but with important credentials: Francesco Molinari comes from the excellent fifth place of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, in which Guido Migliozzi and Edoardo Molinari also finished in the top20.
For the first two…
