Dubai, UAE: European Ryder Cup stars Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton and Major winner Adam Scott are the latest stars to confirm their return to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, while PGA TOUR winner Akshay Bhatia will make his debut at the iconic Emirates Golf Club from January 16-19.
The foursome will join defending champion Rory McIlroy, who is aiming to lift the famous Dallah Trophy for a record fifth time, as well as Major winner Jon Rahm and Olympic Silver Medallist Tommy Fleetwood in a world-class field at the prestigious $9million Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour’s 2025 Race to Dubai.
MacIntyre made his Ryder Cup debut as he joined McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm and Hatton in Europe’s victory in Rome in September 2023 and has since enjoyed a memorable 2024 season. The Scot claimed his first PGA TOUR title at the RBC Canadian Open in June and added a third DP World Tour title – and a first on the Rolex Series – with an emotional victory on home soil at the Genesis Scottish Open.
MacIntyre – who has two top ten finishes in four previous appearances at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic – said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to the Emirates Golf Club in January. It’s a place where I have played well in the past, and it would be great to get the new season off to a strong start again.”
Hatton, who claimed his seventh DP World Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October, has four previous top ten finishes at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Englishman has also tasted past success in the region, triumphing in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and is seeking a fifth Rolex Series win.
Hatton said: “I always enjoy coming to Dubai and the Emirates Golf Club. I’ve had success in the region in the past so I look forward to getting 2025 off to strong start in the desert.”
Scott is also no stranger to success in the Middle East, with the 2013 Masters champion counting two wins in Qatar on his illustrious career record. The Australian also ended one of his best seasons to date on the DP World Tour with a tied third place finish at the DP World Tour Championship last month on the way to a top 10 finish on the Race to Dubai Rankings.
Scott said: “It’s always been an enjoyable experience when I’ve been able to add the Hero Dubai Desert Classic to my early season schedule, and I’ll be aiming to continue and build on the form that I ended 2024 with.”
The trio will be joined in the field by rising American star Akshay Bhatia, who will tee it up at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time. The 22-year-old was a decorated amateur, and represented the United States in the Junior Presidents Cup, Junior Ryder Cup and Walker Cup before turning professional in 2019.
He claimed his first DP World Tour and PGA TOUR title at the co-sanctioned Barracuda Championship in 2023, adding a second PGA TOUR title earlier this year at the Valero Texas Open.
Bhatia said: “I can’t wait to tee it up in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about the tournament and everything about the week in Dubai, and I’m looking forward to the experience.”
As well as FREE general admission tickets and a limited remaining number of hospitality options, the 2025 event sees the launch of a brand-new ticket option – The Social on Sixteen. Situated in the popular vantage point overlooking the 16th green of the Majlis Course, the new package is sure to tantalise fans who love to catch the action while enjoying a day of fun socialising with friends. The new package, which is inclusive of 4 hours of beverages and premium casual dining options, represents great value, with early bird tickets available from just AED 650.
Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of Hero Dubai Desert Classic, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome such a stellar lineup of players for the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The addition of Ryder Cup stars, Major champions, and exciting young talents highlights the tournament’s status as one of the premier events on the global golfing calendar.
“With world-class golf alongside standout premium fan experiences and off-course fun for all the family in Tournament Town, next year’s event promises to be truly unforgettable.”
Established in 1989, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the oldest golf competition in the Middle East and next year’s event will be the 36th edition of the tournament. A key fixture on the DP World Tour and a part of the esteemed Rolex Series, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic was instrumental in introducing golf to the Middle East and producing some of the sport’s most memorable moments. The 2025 event will mark its second consecutive year being GEO Certified®, having become the only tournament to do so in the Middle East and on the DP World Tour Rolex Series.
Registrations are now open for golf lovers who would like to gain a truly unique experience by working as volunteers at the 2025 tournament, with a range roles available.
To register as a volunteer, secure FREE general admission, or purchase premium experience packages, please visit: www.dubaidesertclassic.com.
More details on the 2025 player lineup and other exciting event announcements coming soon.
About Hero Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic was founded in 1989 as the first DP World Tour event to take place in the Gulf, and the first and only GEO-certified golf event in the Middle East, highlighting the event’s continued dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainable golf events. Regarded as one of the most significant events on the DP World Tour, and part of the prestigious Rolex Series, it has been credited with paving the way for golf’s presence in the Middle East, as well as creating some of the most iconic moments in golfing history.
Promoted and organised by Falcon and Associates, the tournament played on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, is fondly referred to as the ‘Major of the Middle East’, due to its legacy and world-class players drawn to the tournament every year.
The tournament is supported by title sponsor, Hero MotoCorp, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a founding partner of the Dubai Desert Classic. The 36th edition of the event will take place from 16 to 19 January 2025 in Dubai.
To learn more about the tournament, visit www.dubaidesertclassic.com and follow Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, (@dubaidcgolf), or download the new app (Desert Classic) for all the latest event information.
About Hero MotoCorp Ltd.
The New Delhi (India)-headquartered Hero MotoCorp is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles for 23 consecutive years, in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a year. The Company has sold over 120 million products in cumulative sales since its inception. Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in 48 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Hero MotoCorp has eight state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including six in India, and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh. Hero MotoCorp has two world-class, state-of-the-art R&D facilities — the Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in India and Tech Centre Germany (TCG) near Munich. Hero MotoCorp is one of the world’s largest corporate promoters of multiple disciplines of sports, including, Golf, Football, Field Hockey, Cricket and Motorsports. Hero MotoSports Team Rally is India’s flag-bearer in global rally racing. Iconic golfer Tiger Woods is Hero MotoCorp’s Global Corporate Partner. Press Contact: corporate.communication@heromotocorp.com
About the DP World Tour
The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.
Our 2024 global schedule features a minimum of 44 tournaments in 24 different countries across three distinct phases of the season: five ‘Global Swings’ from November 2023 to August 2024; the ‘Back 9’ from September 2024 to October 2024; and the ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’, comprising two consecutive Rolex Series events in November 2024.
Overall, the 2024 season features five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour – and four Major Championships, all of which count towards the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex, the Tour’s season-long competition which concludes at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, has been the title partner of the DP World Tour since the start of the 2022 season, the Tour’s 50th season following its formation in 1972.
About the Rolex Series
The Rolex Series is the premium category of events on the DP World Tour, comprising five tournaments in 2024, staged in a variety of world-class golfing locations around the globe, each with a minimum prize fund of US$9 million.
Showcasing innovation, enriched media, content and broadcast coverage, and a superior event experience for both fans and for the world’s top players, the list of Rolex Series Champions includes some of golf’s most distinguished names.
The Rolex Series was launched in 2017, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Rolex’s enduring partnership with the European Tour group.
In 2024, the Rolex Series comprises; the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 16-19), the Genesis Scottish Open (July 11-14) the BMW PGA Championship (September 19-22), the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (November 7-10) and the DP World Tour Championship (November 14-17). The latter two events comprise the DP World Tour Play-Offs and feature the leading 70 and 50 players from the Race to Dubai respectively.
Press contact: hddc@wspglobal.com. For all inquiries, please contact us at: tom.kerr@fourcommunications.com
