By John Tully-Jackson
Defending champion Sergio Garcia will tee it up with the ‘Iceman’ Henrik Stenson and red-hot Rory McIlroy in one of two mouth-watering marquee groups on the opening day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Following the trio at 8:10am are headline invitee and American debutant Pat Perez, successful Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship defender Tommy Fleetwood and one of the players he overcame on the final day in the UAE captial, Thomas Pieters.

Related: Perez’s Dubai debut off to a flying start…in the press centre at least

McIlroy enters Dubai as one of the favourites after his exalted return, and T-3 finish, in Abu Dhabi last week. Stenson finished strongly with a final round 65 in Abu Dhabi and has history at the Majilis, winning here in 2007, while Garcia started his season with a win on the Asian Tour last week in the SMBC Singapore Open. There 8am start from the 10th will undoubtedly draw the lions share of Thursday galleries.

European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn will peg it up with past champion Colin Montgomerie and three-time Dallah trophy winner Ernie Els 20 minutes before the two marquee groups, at 7:40am.

They are followed at 7:50am by the English trio of former Masters champ Danny Willett (a late scratching in Abu Dhabi with a shoulder injury), Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood.

Back-to-back champion in 2013/14 Stephen Gallacher takes to the 10th tee box at 8:30 am, with fan favourite Andrew ‘Beef” Johnston.

Next up is local boy Rayhan Thomas, who flies the flag for the UAE off the 10th at 8:40am after making his first European Tour cut here last year.

Among the notable afternoon starters is Jamie Elson, the 2017 MENA Tour champion, who tees off at 11:40am from the 10th tee.

MENA Tour runner-up Luke Joy starts his gambit on the first tee at 1:00pm, while the developmental tour’s top amateur, England’s Todd Clements, tees it up alongside former Open champion and MENA Tour patron Darren Clarke at 11:40am from the same tee.

The key afternoon groups start at 12:10 pm when Rafa Cabrera Bello, Abu Dhabi runner-up Ross Fisher and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger open their bid for the Dallah trophy.

They are followed by Branden Grace, Matt Fitzpatrick, hot off his scorching 63 last week, and Tyrrell Hatton at 12:20pm.

At 12:30pm Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen and affable Andy Sullivan fire away. In the group behind them are crowd favourite and the 2010 champion, Miguel Angel Jimenez, at 12:40pm.

Englishmen Daniel Brooks and Paul Waring get the tournament started with Dutchman Daan Huizing off the first tee at 7:10am, while Italian hope Renato Paratore, South African Haydn Porteous and Aussie Jason Norris are the first to make use of the 10th tee at the same time.

Full draw here