Play was suspended for the opening round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club early on Thursday morning, due to the adverse weather that has hit the UAE.

With players including world No. 1 Rory McIlroy preparing to tee it up this week at the DP World Tour Rolex Series event with $9 million on the line, the golfers had to wait until the afternoon to get going, with the first groups teeing off from the first and 10th tees at 1.15pm.

With the course already closed to the public due to the weather, a six-hour delay was enforced by organisers on Thursday before the stars finally got under way.